Daily roundup 28 April: Bullying, education funding, and Rotherham CSE

Children who are bullied are at greater risk of mental health problems in later life than those who are maltreated by adults, according to a UK and US study. Researchers found children who were bullied were five times more likely to experience anxiety and twice as likely to talk of suffering depression and self-harm as those who were maltreated at home. In the UK, the 4,026 children involved were part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, the Guardian reports.


The Liberal Democrats will block any cut in education spending if involved in another coalition government, according to party leader Nick Clegg. The Daily Mail reports that the Liberal Democrats would commit £5bn to protect the entire education budget in real terms, which would see spending on education raised every year from 2018.


The director of children’s services in Rotherham between 2005 and 2008 is to leave her new job in Australia, the Rotherham Star reports. Last month, Sonia Sharp was moved from her job as deputy secretary of early childhood and school education for the state of Victoria following revelations over the handling of historic child sexual exploitation at Rotherham council. A review by Australian authorities did not look into Sharp’s failing at Rotherham and concluded there was no issue with her recruitment, but she is now leaving to seek “opportunities outside of government”.


Clinicians are turning a "blind eye" to children who are overweight or obese, researchers say. A study of children visiting an outpatients department over a 10-week period looked at whether doctors and nurses offered any intervention to those who were overweight or obese, such as advice, further investigation or further specialist support. The study found that among the 14 per cent of children who were overweight, just two per cent were subject to any type of intervention - while in contrast, all underweight children were investigated and given follow-up support, the Telegraph reports.


 Conservative government would use fines imposed on Deutsche Bank for its involvement in the rate-fixing scandal to fund 50,000 apprenticeships for young adults, David Cameron will announce today. The Prime Minister is expected to say the scheme would "train young people and get them off the dole and in to work". The BBC reports that the apprenticeship pledge, which will cost £200m, will target people aged between 22 and 24 who have been unemployed for more than six months.


Victims of historic child abuse at three north London schools are being urged to come forward by police, the London Evening Standard reports. Several allegations of sexual abuse in connection with the schools based in Haringey are being investigated by specialist officers. According to a police statement, there is no link between the three separate investigations or the schools concerned.