Daily roundup 4 September: Narey warning, armed forces, and clothes labels

The man heading the government's review into fostering has warned that "misleading" claims about a white Christian child looked after by mixed-race Muslim foster parents could deter people from ethnic minorities from offering their services, with "disastrous" consequences. The Guardian reports that Sir Martin Narey, joint head of the inquiry into foster care provision, said that the furore surrounding the case, which centred on a five-year-old girl in east London who was placed by Tower Hamlets Council with foster carers who were not considered a cultural match, could reverse a decade and a half of progress.


Children should be taught in schools about the importance of the armed forces as part of the national curriculum so that it cannot be ignored by left-wing teachers, an official review has said. The Telegraph reports that the review, which was commissioned by Theresa May, found that many young people leaving school had "little, if any" exposure to the armed forces and did not even consider it as a potential career option. That is leading to a recruitment crisis, along with other factors including record employment and more school leavers going to university.


John Lewis has become the first UK retailer to remove gender labels from its children's clothing. The Independent reports that the department store chain has not only taken "girls" and "boys" labels from clothes, but has also done away with the separate sections in stores. John Lewis own-brand children clothing will now simply say "girls & boys" or "boys & girls."


A computer-generated monkey developed for schools could be used to help child witnesses give statements to police. The BBC reports that Moe uses motion capture technology as well as lip sync and voice-altering software to mimic the person controlling it. It appears on a screen, controlled from another room, and talks and moves in real time. The developers said it could help with interviews as children might find it easier to open up to Moe than an adult.


School nursing and health visitor provision in Gloucestershire are to be combined under council plans. The Gloucestershire Gazette reports that Gloucestershire County Council is working with Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust to create a new sole service for children aged up to 19 and their families. Families are being asked for their input on the proposal and for ways to improve child health provision in the county.