Daily roundup 8 January: Literacy, acid, and obesity

The government is to set up 35 "English hubs" across the country in an attempt to improve child literacy. The BBC reports that the hubs are among a raft of new measures announced by Education Secretary Justine Greening over the weekend. A £5.7m investment will aim to boost literacy skills in 469 schools, while £7.7m has been set aside to develop high-quality teaching resources.


Some of the UK's largest retailers have agreed to voluntarily stop sales of acids to customers under 18 years old. The BBC reports that a number of DIY stores and supermarkets have signed up to the ban, which will apply to some corrosive substances, including concentrated acids. The Home Office has already proposed new laws to limit the sale of corrosive substances amid continuing concern over rising numbers of acid attacks.


Parents are struggling to spot signs that their children are overweight, a survey has revealed. The Independent reports that a study by NHS Digital has found that 85 per cent of dads thought their children were of a healthy weight, despite 52 per cent having obese children.


A couple have been jailed after waiting three days to take baby with a "hanging" broken arm to hospital. The Metro report that Gemma Warne, the five-month-old baby's mother and her now ex-boyfriend Lee Chambers have both been jailed for four months. The couple admitted they did not take the child to hospital even though they were explicitly told to do so by their GP on 14 August 2015.


Former football coach Barry Bennell has pleaded guilty to six child sex offences. The Telegraph reports that Bennell, the ex-Crew Alexander coach has admitted the offences at the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court. He faces a total of 55 offences, including 42 counts of indecent assault, 11 counts of buggery and two counts of attempted buggery.