Daily roundup 8 February: Obesity, maternity leave, and misconduct

School programmes encouraging children to take more exercise and eat healthily are unlikely to have any real effect on childhood obesity, a study has found. The BBC reports that a study in the British Medical Journal of more than 600 primary school pupils in the West Midlands who took part in a 12-month anti-obesity programme found no improvements in the children's diet or activity levels.


The educational benefits for babies of parents taking longer paid maternity and paternity leave vary greatly, depending on the background of parents and their qualifications, according to new research. The Guardian reports that the research found that the children of highly educated, middle-class parents gained "large and significantly positive effects" in later exam results if their parents took longer periods of paid leave after they were born. The effect was particularly significant for boys.


Two officers from Essex Police are to face charges of misconduct in public office in relation to failures in child abuse cases. ITV News reports that DC Sharon Patterson and former DC Lee Pollard both previously worked in the force's child abuse investigation team. They both face charges of falsifying charging decisions, forging a complainant's signature, misrepresenting evidence to their senior officers and destroying exhibits.


Teachers should be prepared to ask school children if they are suicidal if they notice a change in their behaviour, a charity has warned. The Metro reports that Ged Flynn, chief executive of suicide prevention group Papyrus, said school staff should not feel embarrassed or scared to ask children about their mental health as part of a drive to cut self-harm and depression among young people.


A state-of-the-art youth zone in Birkenhead has been awarded "autism champion". The Wirral Globe reports that Autism Together awarded the hub with the status in recognition of its commitment to providing autism-friendly services and ensuring youth workers and management are fully trained in autism awareness. As a result of training, youth workers at The Hive can now recognise people who are on the autistic spectrum and can ensure sessions at the youth zone are fully inclusive and autism friendly.