The plan to lift the ban on grammar schools is not about reintroducing them to every town and city in England, Prime Minister Theresa May has said. The BBC reports that May said it is about raising the level of education across the country and "ensuring we have good school places for every child". ?
Almost a quarter of a million children and young people are receiving help from NHS mental health services for problems such as anxiety, depression and eating disorders, according to data from 60 per cent of mental health trusts in England. The Guardian reports that, of the 235,189 young people in contact with mental health services in June, 11,849 were boys and girls aged five and under, and 53,659 aged between six and 10.
A group of Conservative MPs have written to Home Secretary Amber Rudd to urge her to ensure unaccompanied asylum seeking children with family in Britain are moved out of the Calais "jungle" refugee camp before it is torn down in a matter of weeks. The Telegraph reports that MPs including former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan have called on the government to "do more" to keep unaccompanied children away from people traffickers.
More than half of children's services staff report spending at least one full day per week gathering information for directors and senior leaders. A survey by Capita One found that one in four staff spend three days a week or more on this task, and has concluded that information needs to be made more easily accessible to children's services staff.
Youth clubs in Kirklees are set to be closed under plans to cut £10m from children's services budgets. The Huddersfield Daily Examiner reports that Kirklees Council has published a consultation stating all open access youth services activities will cease to run, resulting in the closure of 10 youth hubs delivered in 25 venues across the district.
The Scottish government's 10-year strategy for improving mental health support for young people must recognise the role of teachers, school nurses, health visitors and youth workers, according to a charity. Children in Scotland says the strategy needs to recognise the roles of services beyond mental health specialists, and says more focus is needed to meet children's emotional and psychological needs.
Windsor and Maidenhead Council has approved plans to outsource delivery of children's services to a community interest company. From April 2017, Achieving for Children, which is owned by Kingston and Richmond councils, will deliver services for the Berkshire authority.
