Education Secretary Michael Gove has ordered a review of child protection work in Doncaster. The BBC reports that the review will be conducted by professor Julian Le Grand, of the London School of Economics, who will report back to Gove by May. The review will determine whether Doncaster can improve services itself or whether an independent organisation should take over delivery of children's services.
Nearly 2,000 children a year in Britain are dying from “avoidable” causes because doctors lack training in paediatric care, it has been claimed. The Independent reports that the study, conducted by London Children’s Hospital, found that the UK is at the bottom of a European league, with the highest number of excess child deaths among 15 member states of the European Union. The researchers blamed Britain’s health system, saying it had not adapted to meet children’s needs, with the UK having one of the highest child death rates from pneumonia, which is treatable with antibiotics.
A government programme supporting people at risk of violent extremism and terrorism has helped more than 500 young people in the past five years. The Guardian reports that in total 2,500 people have been referred by the police and other agencies to the £3m-a-year anti-radicalisation programme called Channel.
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Brighton & Hove City Council has selected a new director of children’s services. Pinaki Ghoshal has been assistant director for children and young people’s services for Warrington Borough Council since January 2007. Ghoshal said: “The city council is highly ambitious and I look forward to making a lasting difference - from raising educational attainment to reducing the number of looked after children.” His appointment will be confirmed shortly.
Schools face a 15,000 shortage of teachers by 2015, the Shadow Education Secretary will warn. Speaking at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers conference in Liverpool today, Stephen Twigg will argue that the average of one teacher per 17.6 pupils, plus more than 500 existing vacancies, amounts to a lack of more than 15,000 teachers. The Guardian reports that Twigg will argue Education Secretary Michael Gove has created "a crisis in the teaching profession".
