Daily roundup 13 November: Paedophiles, free childcare, and autism

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is to investigate claims that three police forces failed to act on tip offs about potential paedophiles. The BBC reports that the IPCC is to examine how Essex, North Wales and North Yorkshire police handled information sent by Canadian police in 2012.


The Department for Education has published a new benchmarking tool that provides information on how local authorities are delivering free childcare for two-, three- and four-year-olds. The tool provides detail on the funding, take up and quality of the provision by local authority region.


Around 1,300 children in Northern Ireland are waiting to be assessed to see if they have autism. The BBC reports that charity Autism NI, has accused the Northern Ireland Executive of moving backwards rather than forwards in attempting to address the problem.


The Department for Education (DfE) and Norfolk County Council are looking to jointly appoint an expert child protection adviser. Jointly funded by the DfE and the council, the role follows the disbandment of the county’s Improvement Board – set up following poor Ofsted reports in 2013. Both parties have agreed that a new role should be created to provide continued support and challenge.


The Department for Education has announced an extra £22.5m in pupil premium funding in 2015/16. Making the announcement, schools minister David Laws said the increased funding will provide additional resources for teachers to support the most disadvantaged pupils at the start of their schooling.


Children as young as six in St Helens have been recorded committing serious crimes. According to the St Helens Reporter a total of 14 crimes committed by under-10s were recorded between 2011 and 2014, including arson, common assault and battery, racial abuse, criminal damage, sexual abuse and rape.