Daily roundup 5 May: Primary school tests, Cameron quizzed and child protection

Tests for primary school children have been defended by schools minister Nick Gibb, who said they exist to hold schools to account and that “no child should be put under stress” by the assessments. The Daily Mail reports the Tory minister came under fire from parents who said that children were being over-tested.?


Prime Minister David Cameron has banned his children from playing on their electronic devices on Saturday mornings. The Daily Mail reports Cameron spoke openly about his family life as he was being quizzed by a group of 10-year-olds.?


A child protection agency set up in the wake of an organised sex ring in Oxfordshire has missed referral response targets. The BBC reports that the county's multi-agency safeguarding hub was set up after Operation Bullfinch, where seven men were convicted of abusing six girls. But a report by the agency's deputy director has found "concerns" over responding to referrals received - with only 42 per cent of enquiries dealt with on time.


Mental health charity Young Minds is launching a peer support group for parents who are raising children with mental health conditions. The group has secured funding from the Bupa UK Foundation, and will run the support group for 15 months in Lewisham, London, with the hope of developing a model that can be replicated by local authorities across the country.


Medway Council's director of children and adults services is set to leave her post to work for Croydon Council. Kent Online reports that Barbara Peacock started her role at Medway in 2012. The local authority has been issued with improvement notices in 2013 and 2014 as a result of poor performance in children's social care services.

 
Only 12 children have enrolled at a new £12m primary school, built to tackle capacity issues at nearby schools. The Aberdeen Press and Journal reports that parents claim plans to teach children while the school is still under construction are to blame for low registration.