Daily roundup 2 May: Shorter school week, ADHD, and child maintenance

Head teachers could bring in a four-and-a-half day week in schools around England as they grapple with £3bn in budget pressures. The BBC reports that head teachers at the National Association of Head Teachers conference said ministers had not been listening to their plight. They backed a motion giving their leaders licence to explore all available options - including a shorter school week - to protect education.


A record number of children are being prescribed drugs to treat attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) despite warnings against over-medicating children who exhibit symptoms of the condition. The Times reports that data from NHS Scotland shows that more than 8,000 young people in Scotland are being given medication to control symptoms, which typically include hyperactivity and disruptive behaviour - a 39 per cent increase in six years.


MPs have said that the new Child Maintenance Service must be prepared and resourced to automatically take over the more difficult or complicated child support non-payment cases from the Child Support Agency, and be "toothier" than its predecessor in enforcing payment. The work and pensions select committee said gaps in the system's capabilities in domestic violence cases, or in dealing with fraudulent means declarations, must be closed, and the government must set out how it is going to tackle collection of arrears and enforcement in ongoing cases.


Annual reading and numeracy tests for children aged from six to 14 will be taken online from September next year, the Welsh Government has said. The BBC reports that paper tests are being replaced with personalised online assessments that adapt to pupils' skills, providing an appropriate level of challenge.


A summer programme to prepare children in Bradford for life at secondary school is expanding to help more young people following its success last year. The Bradford Telegraph and Argus reports that the Springwood Summer Programme is designed to keep 10- and 11-year-olds engaged in learning and education through summer by providing stimulating activities, and also to prepare them for life at secondary school.