Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 30/01/24.
Article: Key findings from Education Select Committee report into Ofsted’s work with schools – Nursery World
29 January 2024, Catherine Gaunt. MPs have concluded their inquiry into Ofsted’s work with schools:
News: Alfie Steele: More than 60 calls for help before boy’s murder – BBC News Online
27 January 2024, Vanessa Pearce & Nicola Goodwin. More than 60 calls were made to police and social services before a nine-year-old boy was killed by his mum and her partner, a BBC investigation has found:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-68094466
Article: Obesity levels among children ‘could end up costing more than £8bn’ – This Morning
25 January 2024. Obesity levels among children due to the pandemic could end up costing more than £8 billion, research suggests:
News: Family moves 180 miles for special-needs nursery space – BBC News Online
25 January 2024, Vanessa Clarke. There will be fewer nursery spaces for children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) after the expansion of funded hours in England in April, councils and charities warn:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-68017998
News: Child obesity in pandemic could have lifelong effects, study says – BBC News Online
25 January 2024, Aurelia Foster. Tens of thousands of children who became overweight or obese during the pandemic could face “lifelong health consequences”, researchers say:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68068199
News: Almost a quarter of English children are obese at the end of primary school – Guardian Online
24 January 2024, Andrew Gregory. Analysis of more than 1m children reveals ‘alarming’ effects of pandemic:
Article: Attainment gap ‘at risk of widening’ in current policy outlook, experts warn – Nursery World
24 January 2024, Nicole Weinstein. The early years sector is increasingly moving towards ‘childcare at the expense of high-quality education’, the Sutton Trust warns:
News: Children suffering due to lack of outdoor play, UK charities warn – Guardian Online
23 January 2024, Sandra Laville. Charities call on government to prioritise outside spaces for play as MPs begin inquiry into planning and children’s wellbeing:
News: Energy drinks may cause mental illness in children, scientists warn – The Independent Online
23 January 2024, Vishwam Sankaran. More people drank energy drinks, the less sleep they had, scientists say:
Link: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/energy-drink-children-mental-illness-b2483139.html
News: Crumbling schools plagued by leaks and cold, BBC finds – BBC News Online
22 January 2024, Rahil Sheikh. Schools in urgent need of repair have told Panorama they are struggling to keep children warm in buildings that are “not fit for purpose”:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68021766
News: More children than ever need mental health care as figures show nearly half a million are awaiting treatment – The Independent Online
21 January 2024, Rebecca Thomas. Nearly half a million children are waiting for mental health treatment, with some youngsters left to languish for several years before being seen by medics in what has been described as a “scandal”:
Link: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/children-mental-health-autism-nhs-b2482324.html
Article: ‘Complete chaos’ for parents trying to access the extended funding for two-year-olds – Nursery World
15 January 2024, Katy Morton. Thousands of parents are struggling to get their code to take up the extended hours and to find a setting that is offering funded places:
News: More child sexual abuse imagery discovered than ever before – Internet Watch Foundation
January 2024. With a growing number of reports showing younger children coerced into performing sexually online, we warn tech companies must do more to prevent the spread of abuse: