Labour looks set to go into the 2015 general election pledging to bring in universal state-funded childcare for preschool-age children if it regains power. The Independent reports that senior Labour figures, such as Lucy Powell, want to include a “big offer” on childcare in its manifesto. As well as state funded childcare, other options include ensuring a children’s centre in every neighbourhood in an improved Sure Start programme, reversing cuts which have seen about 400 of the 3,000 centres close since the 2010 election.
Numbers of parental child abduction cases have more than doubled in the last decade, new figures show. The BBC reports that were 272 new parental child abduction and international custody cases in 2003/04, and 580 in 2012/13.
Birmingham's children’s services can still show signs of improvement when government inspectors visit next month, the politician responsible for them has claimed. The Birmingham Mail reports that Brigid Jones, cabinet member for children’s services, said the department has the ability to turn the corner without government intervention. Last month an Ofsted inspection was cancelled and replaced with a review to be carried out by an expert panel from the Department for Education.
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