Daily roundup 21 June: Social skills, hunger, and parental leave

More than 80 per cent of parents believe that children's experiences at pre-school can affect their social skills in later life, a survey commissioned by The Co-operative Childcare has found. The survey revealed that although academic subjects were of high importance to parents, social and physical skills like riding a bike were also highly rated.


A Hartlepool Council pilot scheme to prevent children in poverty-hit families going hungry during the school summer holidays has been given the go-ahead. The Hartlepool Mail reports the £38,000 project, which will be partly delivered by foodbank operators the Trussell Trust, aims to reach children who benefit from free school meals during term time.?


The government has urged "soon-to-be dads" to consider whether they can play a more active role in the first year of their child's life by applying for shared parental leave. Under the scheme, eligible dads can now share up to 39 weeks, pay and up to 52 weeks of leave with the child's mother in the first year of their baby's life.


?Delegates at Unison have committed the union to campaign for "quality youth services" as part of a broader fight to save local services. Speaking at the union's local government conference yesterday, youth worker Dave Rees warned youth services "are being destroyed" by cuts as he moved the youth service motion.?


An RSPCA worker who set up an education centre to help teach children to be kind to animals has been awarded with an RSPCA honours award. The scheme, which was set up by Alison Ripley, general manager of the Hull and East Riding RSPCA branch, also helped to identify children who are suffering abuse. ?