Daily roundup 28 June: Mental health, neglect, and exercise

Two thirds parents in London fear their children would never recover if they were diagnosed with a mental illness, research by mental health charity MQ has found. The Evening Standard reports that half of parents worried their child might never get a job after being diagnosed with a mental health condition, and four out of five said more needs to be done to increase funding and support for young people's mental health.

Three neglected children from a traveller family should continue living with their parents, a high court judge has ruled, to show tolerance "to the traditions of different communities". The Daily Mail reports that Justice Mostyn said there were fairly serious concerns about the children's welfare, and has set up a supervision order to place the children under the watch of social workers for six months.


Pupils who do physical and sports activity during school hours do not see their learning or exam results suffer, according to a panel of exercise specialists. The Guardian reports the experts, who are from eight countries including Britain, said that even one session of an activity that raises children's heart rate is good for both their brain and education.


Children as young as nine have been found to be carrying knives in West Mercia schools, data has revealed. The Shropshire Star reports that data from West Mercia Police shows a 120 per cent rise in the number of knife incidents in primary and secondary schools, with 11 children found to be carrying knives on school premises last year.


Essex County Council has been urged to rethink plans to close children's centres in Colchester. The county council is set to close 37 children's centres across Essex and create 12 hubs. The Harwich and Manningtree Standard reports Colchester Council has now urged it to rethink the plans.