Daily roundup 22 May: Free schools, early years inspections, and children's centres

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has launched a government drive to establish 500 more free schools, describing them as "modern engines of social justice" that "help break the cycle of disadvantage". Speaking on the day the latest application window for free schools opens, Morgan said they are empowering parents to demand more for their children. The government has committed to opening 500 more free schools in this parliament, equating to 270,000 additional school places.


Guidelines on how inspections of early years provision should be conducted have been published by Ofsted. The guidebook contains details about how long inspections should take and factors inspectors should take into account when conducting an inspection.


Four children’s centres in Hampshire have been told they are failing the youngsters they are looking after. The Portsmouth News reports that an Ofsted inspection of the centres in Fareham, which look after more than 200 children aged under five, rated them "inadequate". The report highlighted concerns around staff not knowing enough about children in child protection plans.


A scheme tackling youth offending has been hailed as a success after just one child out of 67 who took part reoffended within six months. The Portsmouth News reports that the scheme involves children meeting with both their victim and police. A panel of volunteers, aged 14 to 21, then helps to decide how the child should be dealt with.


Charities have spoken out about the potential implications of a proposed new law in Wales that could see children and young people given annual updates that show foster care organisations at risk of being deregistered. The Daily Post reports that Barnardo’s fear the policy, contained in the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Bill, could cause “emotional distress” to already vulnerable children.


Youth services provided by the YMCA in Surrey are being cut following a loss of £700,000 in funding. Get Surrey reports that a proportion of YMCA accommodation in Guildford will be used for increased student accommodation, and some space will be turned into a commercial gym.