Daily roundup 12 May: Early years pledge, eating disorders, and weapons

Labour is set to make more generous pledges on supporting early years education - after finalising its election manifesto. The Guardian reports that the decision followed a "furious outburst" by the shadow education secretary Angela Rayner, who confronted shadow chancellor John McDonnell over the issue.


Around two thirds of children and young people with eating disorders are starting urgent treatment within one week, figures from last year show. The BBC reports that NHS England introduced new waiting time targets in 2016 to ensure fast treatment for under-19s with disorders like anorexia and bulimia. But eating disorder charity Beat said too many young people were still waiting too long for treatment.


Samurai swords, axes and air guns are among thousands of weapons seized from schools in England and Wales, freedom of information requests have revealed. The BBC reports that data provided by 32 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales showed 2,579 weapons had been found in two years to March 2017.


Children are stressed about exams because social media means they worry about the job market, a charity has said. The Telegraph reports that the NSPCC has seen a 11 per cent rise in counselling sessions for children affected by exam stress in the past two years. The charity has suggested that children who don't read newspapers or watch the news were more likely to read about economic woe because of articles shared on social networks such as Facebook. 


The number of under-18s in custody has dropped slightly. Statistics published by the Youth Justice Board show that in March there were 858 under-18s being held in the youth secure estate, a drop of five on February's figure of 863.


A school has come in for criticism after asking children to walk with their hands behind their backs between lessons. The Telegraph reports that Market Harborough C of E Academy in Leicestershire has been criticised for the "Victorian" policy, which teachers claim will help them develop "good habits" and "secure routines".


Parents have been reprimanded online by the Department for Education for tweeting answers from their children's SATs exams. The Birmingham Mail reports that the DfE's official Twitter account warned against publishing answers as some Key Stage 2 students are still due to sit assessments.