Daily roundup 24 March: 'Health drinks', academy protests, and Cardiff children's services

Almost half of fruit juices and smoothies aimed at children contain more than a child’s entire daily sugar allowance, research has found. The Daily Mail reports the Liverpool University study found that some of these supposedly health drinks contain up to 10 teaspoons of sugar in a pack. ?


A number of rallies were held across England yesterday in response to government plans to force all schools to become academies by 2022. The BBC reports that the National Union of Teachers organised the rallies, but the Department for Education said it was “disappointing” that teachers unions were protesting.?


?Cardiff Council’s children’s service have made a “significant improvement” since its last inspection, a report by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales has said. Wales Online reports that the regulator found children were at the forefront of assessments, families were supported to keep children safe and staff understood child protection procedures.?


Essex Police has been criticised for “widespread serious and systemic failings” in protecting vulnerable children. ITV News reports that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary found that officers were poorly trained to carry out child abuse investigations.


Firstborn children perform better at school despite suffering from poorer health at birth, a study has revealed. The Telegraph reports it was previously believed firstborns are more intelligent because of biology, but it has now emerged firstborns do better because of greater parental involvement in their education.