Daily roundup 19 April: Ofsted progress, circumcision, and admissions ‘blackspots'

West Berkshire Council has made good progress in improving its services for children and families, according to children and families minister Edward Timpson. Get Reading reports that the Department for Education visited the council last month to review its progress one year after its children's services department was rated “inadequate” by Ofsted. In a letter Timpson confirmed good progress had been made and senior managers had responded positively to the challenge.


A judge has ruled that two young children should not be circumcised until they are old enough to decide for themselves. The Telegraph reports Mrs Justice Roberts made the comments as she prevented a Muslim father from forcing his sons – aged four and six – to have the procedure against the wishes of the mother. ?


Thousands of children were rejected by all of their preferred primary schools after high migration and a baby boom created "admissions blackspots". The Daily Mail reports that up to one in 10 children in some areas were denied a place at all of their school choices, with the most oversubscribed schools receiving six applications per place. 


Home Secretary Theresa May has announced that the government plans to introduce a 72-hour time limit on the detention of pregnant women. May said the government will introduce legislation through its Immigration Bill next month. It will emphasise that pregnant women should only be detained in exceptional circumstances.?


A head teacher has resigned from her position with effect from the end of August due to government plans for education. A statement released today by Kit Messenger, head teacher of Manor Field Primary School, in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, said she feels that an ever-narrowing curriculum and the current political desire to turn all schools in to academies are to the increasing detriment of children’s education.?