Daily roundup 23 May: Smacking, agency social workers, and revenge pornography

Britain's children's commissioners have called for a ban on parents smacking children. The Times reports that, in their report to the UN committee on the rights of the child, the commissioners of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland argue that smacking should be outlawed entirely.


Spending by failing councils on agency social workers has risen by 50 per cent in three years, according to an investigation by Channel 4's Dispatches programme. The Telegraph reports that councils have spent more than £500m on agency social workers in the last three years.


Children as young as 12 have been victims of so-called "revenge pornography" – where indecent images of people are posted online without their consent. The Leicester Mercury reports that Leicestershire police investigated 30 cases of revenge porn in the 12 months since it was outlawed, 17 of which involved girls and boys under the age of 18.


??British Muslims who allegedly wanted to raise their children under the Islamic State in Syria are facing jail. The Express reports Muslim convert Lorna Moore from Walsall, was accused of planning to take her three children to the war-ravaged country. She was found guilty of failing to tell authorities that her husband Sajid Aslam was about to leave for Syria.?


The early years attainment gap between children from poorer and wealthier homes is almost twice as large in the North of England as it is in London, according to an analysis of education data. Carried out by IPPR North, the analysis also found educational inequality is not just a problem for satellite and costal towns as some major northern cities also struggle to raise attainment for disadvantaged pupils.?


Children’s centres in Oxfordshire need extra cash if they are to offer strong outreach services, an Oxford City councillor has said. The Oxford Mail reports that a team led by Hinksey Park representative Marie Tidball has said Grandpont Nursery School Children’s Centre and others similar to it will require an additional £80,000 a year to be effective.?