Daily roundup 19 October: Children's centres, National Adoption Week, and children's mental health services

Parents should be denied child benefits if they don't send their children to pre-school education from the age of three, a Conservative think-tank has suggested. The Guardian reports that Bright Blue said the move would help address poverty by ensuring disadvantaged children are school-ready.


A children’s charity has launched a campaign calling for families to consider adopting slightly older children. As part of National Adoption Week, which begins today, CoramBAAF sad it wants to break down the barriers that prevent slightly older children from being adopted as readily as others. Statistics show that most children waiting for adoption are aged four.


The government is to give additional funding of £3.7m to children's mental health services in Kirklees, West Yorkshire, over the next five years. The Huddersfield Daily Examiner reports that the funding is part of efforts to turn around services.


A pilot scheme has been launched in the London borough of Merton to educate sixth-form pupils about the health benefits of having children when their bodies are in the optimum stage for childbirth. The Daily Mail reports the scheme comes as the number of women giving birth in their late 30s or older has soared over recent years.


Sex crimes reported against children in Greater Manchester have risen by 68 per cent in a year, according to figures released by the Home Office. The Manchester Evening News reports that in the 12 months to June 2015 a total of 2,026 sex crimes against children were recorded by police compared with 1,207 in the 12 months to June 2014.


A Sheffield-based project that works with children affected by domestic abuse has received a £10,000 grant from South Yorkshire’s police and crime commissioner. The Sheffield Star reports that Alan Billings gave the funding to the Haven House Project to ensure it can carry on providing after-school sessions for three- to 16-year-olds living in refuges.