Daily roundup 22 August: Supersized classes, coding, and letter mistake

The number of "supersized" primary school classes in Scotland has risen by more than a third. The Times reports that analysis by the Scottish Liberal Democrats found that classes with 30 or more children increased by 36 per cent between 2012 and last year, from 1,687 to 2,287. The number of children being taught in such classes rose by more than 19,000, from 52,445 to 71,309 in the same period.


Children as young as two should be introduced to the basics of coding, according to one of Britain's most eminent computing pioneers. The Guardian reports that Dame Stephanie Shirley, whose company was one of the first to sell software in the 1960s, said that engaging very young children - in particular girls - could ignite a passion for puzzles and problem-solving long before the "male geek" stereotype took hold.


A grieving mother was sent a letter threatening to cut her benefits "because her son was living at her address" - though he had died 20 months earlier while under the care of the same council. The Brighton Argus reports that Brighton and Hove City Council's benefits office wrote to Barbara Bonnot demanding to know when her son Steffan had moved into her address. But he had died in January 2016 aged 17 after running away from Brighton and Hove children's service.


A Policewoman has launched a project to provide under-privileged children in the borough with school uniforms. The St Helens Star reports that Inspector Vicky Holden, who works alongside the St Helens Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub, created the Paper Dolls Police Academy to collect school uniforms to help those families who struggle to buy them.


Hotel chain Ibis has announced a three-year partnership with care and support charity Teenage Cancer Trust. The firm said that it will aid the charity through a series of special events, fundraisers and company-wide activities. All funds will go to the charity's ongoing work providing care and support to young people across the UK facing cancer.