Daily roundup 27 October: Ofsted, tax credits, and term-time holidays

A renewed focus on old-fashioned teaching methods has helped primary schools improve over the last five years, the chief inspector of Ofsted has said. The Daily Mail reports Sir Michael Wilshaw said children are now mastering the basics of reading more effectively because phonics teaching has been chosen in favour of trendy methods.  


Chancellor George Osborne will act on concerns about the impact of tax credit cuts following defeat in the House of Lords. The BBC reports Osborne has promised “transitional help” for those affected but has vowed to press on with changes to save billions from welfare.  


Children should be allocated five days of term-time holidays a year in a bid to help mitigate the costs faced by parents when taking a break, it has been suggested. The Telegraph reports that Annie O’Leary, editor-in-chief of Netmums, said such a rule should only apply to pupils that have 100 per cent attendance throughout the year and no record of truancy.


Norfolk Constabulary has made improvements in child protection, according to a report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). After an initial report and recommendations given to the force in August 2014, HMIC said it has taken steps to improve its child protection services.


Children’s communication charity I Can has appointed a new chief executive. Bob Reitemeier, previously chief executive at the Essex Community Foundation and and The Children’s Society, has been announced as the new postholder.