Daily roundup 18 February: Lockdown, troops, and illegal schools

Almost 300 under-18s being held at a Wetherby Young Offenders Institute (YOI) in West Yorkshire were placed on "lockdown" after five members of staff were assaulted in the past week. The Daily Mail reports that officers at the establishment kept young people locked in their cells amid concerns about staff safety.


A government scheme to recruit ex-military personnel and train them to be teachers has been criticised after it emerged that only 28 people had qualified through it. The Independent reports that the scheme, called Troops to Teachers, has been labelled an "embarrassing failure" by Labour.


The government has been accused of failing to close down illegal schools fast enough. The BBC reports that 21 unregistered schools in England are being investigated, but shadow education secretary Lucy Powell said ministers have "dragged their feet".


Almost three-quarters of 16- to 24-year-olds want to stay in the European Union (EU), according to research by youth charity YMCA England. A poll of 2,005 young people across England and Wales found 72 per cent believe the UK should remain in the EU.


Children with autism experience higher levels of sensory discomfort at school than their non-autistic peers, researchers have claimed. A study by the Anglia Ruskin University, which conducted research in three schools, found 88 per cent of children with autism are affected by issues relating to hearing.


Two English-born children with parents who were trafficked from Slovakia should be placed for adoption in England, a High Court judge has ruled. The BBC reports the children were placed in foster care after concerns were raised by social services. The parents were later evicted back to Slovakia and their current whereabouts are unknown. Mr Justice Baker said it was unrealistic to return the children to Slovakia.


Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced additional funding of £6.1m to help young people find work. The money is intended to create up to 700 job training opportunities for 16- to 29-year-olds and is aimed at those facing barriers into work including those with a disability or who may have left the military early.