Daily roundup 15 December: Erasmus, harassment advice and childcare funding

The UK will stay in the Erasmus universities programme immediately following Brexit, the Prime Minister has said. The Independent reports that Theresa May stated her intention for the UK to stay in the programme until at least 2020. She said that the announcement would provide clarity for young people and the education sector, although whether the UK will stay in the Erasmus programme after 2020 will be subject to negotiation.


The government has published new guidance for schools on sexual harassment between children. The guidance, Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges, offers advice to schools on what to do if sexual violence occurs in schools. It has been welcomed by the women and equalities select committee, but it warned that more needs to be done to ensure that future generations of girls are safe and equal at school.


The Scottish government will invest £243m towards the expansion of free nursery education and childcare, reports The Scotsman. The measure was included in the Scottish government's annual budget and will be used to fund more childcare places with £120m extra for education.


Pupils with special educational needs (SEN) are falling further behind their classmates in national primary school tests, statistics have shown. The BBC reports that figures published by the department for education have found that the gap between SEN pupils and their classmates has risen from 48 per cent in 2016 to 52 per cent this year, with less than 20 per cent of children with SEN having reached the expected level in reading, writing and mathematics.


Wales has unveiled a workforce plan to support delivery of free childcare for three- and four-year-olds. The Welsh government's Childcare, Play and Early Years workforce plan sets out ways to raise the professional standards of the childcare workforce.


One in six parents allow their children to drink alcohol before the age of 14, research has found. The Guardian reports that a study from the Centre for Longitudinal Studies at University College London's Institute of Education has found that well-educated parents of white children were most likely to allow their children to drink alcohol, which can lead to behavioural difficulties and a stronger likelihood to suffer alcohol problems in adulthood.