Daily roundup 31 May: Mental health, Birmingham, and tadpoles

More than a quarter of children referred to mental health services in England in 2015 – including some who had attempted suicide – received no help, a report has found. The BBC reports that a review by children’s commissioner for England Anne Longfield, also found that 13 per cent of children with life-threatening conditions were not allowed specialist support.?


??Birmingham City Council’s lead member for children’s services Brigid Jones has been urged to step down following the broadcast of Channel 4's Dispatches programme last week. The Birmingham Mail reports that opposition Conservative children's services spokesman Matt Bennett said that after four years at the helm it is time for Jones to step down.


Children should eat tadpoles to bring them closer to nature, television presenter Chris Packham has said. The Daily Mail reports that Packham, who was speaking at the Hay Festival in Wales, said that eating tadpoles can help instil “a passion for life” in children. 


Three quarters of older children with diabetes are not receiving important checks that help keep the condition under control. The Guardian reports that, according to the 2014/15 National Paediatric Diabetes Audit, just 25.4 per cent of 12-year-olds have all seven recommended health checks performed annually.


Schools are carrying out “lockdown” drills to prepare for terror incidents, it has been claimed. The Express reports that schools in Buckinghamshire and Central Bedfordshire have been preparing children in the event of an “emergency incident”. The Department for Education spokesman said that all schools should have crisis management plans in place.