Daily roundup 24 April: Play, election day, and unqualified teachers

Political parties have been called on to prioritise children’s play if they win the general election. Play England has written to more than 3,000 candidates standing for election in England calling for all political parties to invest in children’s play because of the proven benefits to children, families and communities.


Television channel E4 will be off the air for 12 hours on the day of the general election in an attempt to get more young people to vote. The Daily Mail reports that regular scheduling on the channel between 7am and 7pm on 7 May will display a special advertisement that encourages people to visit the polling stations.


Unqualified teachers that are not working towards qualification by 2020 would be fired under a Labour government, shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt has said. Speaking in a debate on the BBC Daily Politics show, Hunt said a teacher would “not deserve to be in the classroom” if they are not “on a pathway” to a formal qualification.  


Opportunities to tackle child sexual exploitation in Rotherham were missed by South Yorkshire Police, a report by the National Crime Agency (NCA) has found. The Daily Mail reports that a review by the organisation concluded that a host of failings allowed at least 1,400 children between 1997 and 2013 in the town to be raped, trafficked and sexually abused by gangs.


Self-esteem lessons being run in Hertfordshire have proved so successful they are set to be extended. The Comet reports that parents have requested that the founder of a self esteem workshop for 11- to 13-year-olds in Hitchin and Letchworth creates a similar programme for children aged eight- to 10-years-old. Gaynor Dawson, founder of Enhance & Inspire, has already begun running weekend workshops because of high demand.