Daily roundup 21 September: Mental health, abuse inquiry and free school meals

The education committee has announced an inquiry into mental health services for looked-after children. The inquiry, which comes after the health committee's recent report on children's and adolescent's mental health, will look at the quality of services and investigate whether the government's guidance on promoting the health and wellbeing of children in care is sufficient. The deadline for evidence is 29 October.


The future of the Metropolitan Police investigation into historial child sexual abuse by establishment figures in the 1970s and 80s is uncertain following a disagreement between investigators over the credibility of a key witness. The Guardian reports that some officers involved in the Operation Midland inquiry have questioned the evidence of the investigation's sole witness.


Millions of children will go hungry if the government abandons its free school meals policy for infants. The Guardian reports that shadow education secretary Lucy Powell said reversing the policy will be a "slap in the face" for families. Free school meals for all four to seven year olds was introduced last year, however the Department for Education will not comment on speculation that the government is considering axing the £1bn programme.


The Pre-school Learning Alliance has called for the government to undertake a full review of the free childcare funding system in its early years agenda manifesto. It wants the government to extend its current review of funding for three- and four-year-olds to free childcare for two-year-olds. The alliance is also calling on the government to bring early years inspection back in-house, and scrap the proposed baseline assessment tests.


Almost half of children are addicted to tablets and smartphones, according to a ComRes poll. Researchers found that children spend an average of almost three hours a day in front of screens. In addition, The Telegraph reports that half of parents said they are worried about their children being exposed to sexual content and meeting strangers online.


And finally, a nursery in Crawley has been banned from letting its children play outside after neighbours complained that their "giggling and laughing" was annoying. The Mirror reports that the nursery has been told by council chiefs not to allow children play outside until complaints about noise levels are fully investigated. The nursery received a "good" Ofsted report earlier this year, when inspectors praised it for making the most of its outdoor play area.