Daily roundup 28 July: Regrets, extremism, and school funding

A study has found that regret plays a crucial role in helping children to make better decisions. The BBC reports that research involved 326 Northern Ireland schoolchildren found that by the age of six, only some children are able to experience regret, but those who do learn to make better decisions.


Schools have a responsibility to "fill the void" and stop vulnerable pupils being lured into crime and extremism, Ofsted's London director has said. The Evening Standard reports that Mike Sheridan said children must be given a sense that they belong in society and taught resilience in order to give them an "option away from hatred".


A union has criticised "unsustainable" levels of spending on academies. Commenting on statistics released by the Department for Education showing that the total revenue expenditure in academies exceeded income by £280m, the NAHT said it indicated that all schools are finding it hard to balance budgets.


Foster carers and adopters in Norfolk will work more closely together as part of a pilot project to support children who are moving from foster care to adoption. Norfolk County Council said it is partnering with the University of East Anglia on the project, called Moving to Adoption, which will see foster carers and adopters spend time together as a child approaches adoption, in order to give adopters the chance to better understand the child's needs and ensure the child has the right support as they move to their new home.


The Department for Education has lifted an improvement notice issued to West Berkshire Council. Earlier this month children's services at West Berkshire were rated as "good" by Ofsted, just two years after they received an "inadequate" judgment.


Police in Cambridgeshire have used force on three children aged 10 or under in the past three months, new figures have revealed. The Cambridge News reports that an average of 419 reports were filed of force being used by Cambridgeshire officers each month from April to June this year - including five reports of force being used on a child aged 10 or under.