Daily roundup 30 November: Autism, children's centres, and Christmas tour

More than 50 per cent of autistic children and young people are not happy at school and less than 50 per cent of teachers are confident about supporting a child on the autism spectrum, a survey has found. The findings of the survey feature in a report by the all-party parliamentary group on autism and the National Autistic Society which says the education system is still failing to meet the needs of autistic children.


A last-minute bid to save Warwickshire's under-threat children's centres has been unsuccessful. The Leamington Observer reports that a meeting was held yesterday (29 November) to discuss plans to use cash from Warwickshire County Council reserves to keep threatened centres open. But councillors voted against the plans, a joint proposal by Labour, Lib Dems and the Green Party, meaning the children's centres will be axed as part of £1.1m cost-cutting exercise by the council.


Coca-Cola should reflect on whether it should stop its red truck tour as it hampers efforts to tackle childhood obesity, the chief executive of Public Health England has warned. The Telegraph reports that Duncan Selbie said local authorities that are allowing the signature red truck to stop in their towns and cities should "reflect on whether it's in the best interests of the health of local children and families". The drinks giant's UK truck tour is now in its seventh year, visiting 42 locations.


The number of children in workless households in the UK has fallen to a 20-year low, figures have shown. The Daily Mail reports that according to Office for National Statistics figures there were 1.3 million children living in workless families in the UK between July and September this year. This is the equivalent to 10.4 per cent of children, which is the lowest proportion since public records began in 1996.


Cereals giant Kellogg's is to cut the amount of sugar in its three top-selling children's cereals by between 20 and 40 per cent by the middle of next year. The BBC reports that the lines are Coco Pops, Rice Krispies, and Rice Krispies Multi-Grain Shapes. Kellogg's will also stop selling Ricicles and end on-pack promotions aimed at children on Frosties. It comes amid pressure on food firms to cut sugar levels to combat obesity, but one nutritionist told the BBC that the company was not going far enough.


A man who sexually assaulted a young boy has been imprisoned after his non-custodial sentence was overturned by the Court of Appeal. Nicholas Henshall, 44, was found guilty of sexual assault on a child at Liverpool Crown Court in September this year. He initially received a 20-month sentence suspended for 2 years, and a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The Attorney General's Office said the Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence and replaced it with 20 months imprisonment without suspension.