Daily roundup 4 October: Exclusions, mental health, and West Sussex schools

The number of pupils expelled from schools in some parts of England has risen by more than 300 per cent in three years, government figures show. The BBC reports there were 5,800 permanent exclusions in 2014/15 compared with 4,630 three years ago, while fixed term or temporary exclusions rose from 267,520 to 302,980 in the same period. The largest rises were in Barnsley, Middlesbrough and North Lincolnshire.


Seven in 10 specialist nurses that care for young people with mental health problems believe that child and adolescent mental health services (Camhs) are insufficient, a poll has found. The Guardian reports the Royal College of Nursing study found half of all child mental health nurses said Camhs are inadequate, while 20 per cent said they are highly inadequate.


Headteachers from every school in West Sussex have told parents that they may be forced to close for one day a week unless the government can provide emergency financial assistance. The Independent reports that letters sent out from all primary, secondary and special schools in the county warned that consistent underfunding has prompted schools to consider "modifying opening hours" in a bid to cut costs.


Time to Change, the campaign to tackle stigma around mental health, has been given £20m in funding to continue its work. The BBC reports that the funding comes from the Department of Health, Comic Relief and the Big Lottery Fund.


Children at a school in Cornwall have been banned from running in the playground in a bid to reduce the number of playtime injuries. ITV News reports that Hillfort Primary School said the decision has already had a dramatic impact but a group of parents called the ban "ridiculous"


A council's children's services are "showing signs of making positive changes" following an "inadequate" judgment last year, Ofsted has said following a monitoring visit. The watchdog concluded Lancashire County Council has a comprehensive plan in place that is being implemented across the service.


Young Muslims who abandon their faith face violent retaliation and abuse from their families, a support group has warned. The Daily Mail reports the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain said that those born into the religion are often scared of speaking out and those that do are in danger of being attacked.