Daily roundup 8 September: Summer-born children, tax credits, and Devon

Parents of summer-born children have had requests to delay their school start blocked by a co-ordinated strategy by local authorities, it has been claimed. The Daily Mail reports that councils are demanding professional evidence that can cost thousands of pounds amid fears that agreeing to requests would "open the floodgates".


Five million of Britain’s most disadvantaged children will lose an average of £750 every year due to the tax credit cuts. The Independent reports that figures, which show the impact on 2.7 million working families from changes to tax credits in April, were uncovered by Labour in the House of Commons Library.


Devon County Council's children's services department is set to overspend by £10.5m this year. The BBC reports that the predicted overspend is due to increased staffing costs, more children being looked after, and more money spent on placements. 


Complaints about children’s social care in Worcestershire have increased by 44 per cent. The Worcester News reports in the last two years the number of complaints about children’s social services in the county has jumped from 208 to 300.


Scottish children as young as eight are being “tarnished” by criminal records, a group of charities have warned. The Scotsman reports the group, which includes Barnardo’s and the NSPCC, are now calling for ministers to back raising the age of criminal responsibility from eight to 12 years old.