Daily roundup: Child trafficking, GCSEs, and free childcare

The number of children identified as victims of trafficking in the UK is on the rise. Figures published in a UK Human Trafficking Centre report show 2,255 victims of human trafficking were identified in the UK in 2012, up from 2,077 in 2011. A total of 549 of these were children in 2012, up 12 per cent on the 2011 figure of 490. Children’s rights charity Ecpat UK said the figures were an indication of the government’s “continued failure to make the UK a safe place for children”.

Local authorities are facing a shortfall of £9,000 per pupil for additional school places because central government funding does not cover the full cost. Analysis by London Councils found that although councils have strategies in place to create more places, insufficient resources from central government are “placing unprecedented pressure on councils’ already squeezed budgets”. Peter John, London Councils’ executive member for children’s services, said: “Councils are pulling out all the stops to create places, but London’s rising population, particularly at school age, means they are running to stand still. Frankly, this is just not sustainable.”