Daily roundup 30 March: Childcare costs, ‘classroom crisis', and child poverty

The cost of pre-school childcare is effectively barring half of single parents in London from going to work. The BBC reports that charity Gingerbread estimates that nursery fees take up half of the income of average single parents, once housing has been paid for. It said some parents have no choice but to hand their notice in during the summer holidays. ?


More than 60,000 children are going to schools miles away in different towns because of a “classroom crisis”, a think-tank has said. The Sun reports that the New Schools Network said a chronic shortage of places or poor standards is forcing tens of thousands of children to travel long distances. ?


Poor young people are less likely to feel optimistic about the future and are more likely to view themselves as failures than their peers, a report has revealed. A study by The Children’s Society found that 29 per cent of 16- to 19-year-olds growing up in poverty do not feel optimistic about the future compared with 22 per cent of their wealthier peers. ?


Children in Birmingham with special educational needs (SEN) are being failed by the council, according to a report from auditors Deloitte. The Birmingham Mail reports that the council's SEN service has managed to transfer just 12 per cent of children from an old statement to the new education, health and care plans within the 16-week timeframe.


More than 10,000 people have signed a petition to fight proposals to close or reduce the opening hours of children's centres in Essex. The Essex Daily Gazette reports that the council plans to close 25 of its 37 main children's centres.


Nearly 1,000 children and teenagers were convicted for driving without insurance in 2014, according to data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The Express and Star reports that the figures include an 11-year-old, as well as 12 boys and one girl aged 12.