Daily roundup 16 January: Language disorders, school funding, and screen time

Fewer than half of children with language disorders are identified in primary school. A study led by University College London found that approximately two children in every year 1 class (7.6 per cent) experience a clinically significant language disorder that impacts learning, but only three per cent of were identified by schools as having speech, language and communication needs. Children's communication charity I Can has launched an inquiry into the issue.


Schools in Education Secretary Justine Greening's constituency will be among thousands across England suffering steep budget cuts despite the government's new "fair funding" formula, according to analysis released by six unions. The Guardian reports that unions - including the National Association of Head Teachers and the National Union of Teachers - say the study shows an "extremely bleak" picture of how the new formula will leave schools across England struggling.


A study of screen time and mental wellbeing among teenagers has suggested moderate use of devices may be beneficial in a connected world. The BBC reports that researchers analysing self-reported data from 120,000 English 15-year-olds about their digital device habits found a "Goldilocks effect" where a few hours of device-use seemed to boost mental wellbeing.


A total of 450 staff have left employment at Kirklees Council's embattled children's services department in the past four years. Figures released to The Huddersfield Daily Examiner reveal that 136 members of staff left in 2013/14, 123 in 2014/15, 99 in 2015/16, and 92 have left so far in 2016/17. Kirklees Council said the children's services department is not short-staffed as replacements have been recruited.


People who lose their homes in one of London's richest boroughs could be sent to live in temporary accommodation as far away as Coventry under new plans announced by the City of Westminster. The Guardian reports that Westminster Council says rising homelessness, coupled with housing benefits cuts and government plans to force local authorities to sell off social housing gives it no option but to place more families outside the capital.