Early years organisations have criticised the government's decision not to accept "functional skills" as equivalents to GCSEs in the entry requirements for early years educator (EYE) qualifications. The decision means that from September all EYE training courses funded through the Skills Funding Agency will require entrants to hold GCSEs in maths and English at grade C or above. The Pre-school Learning Alliance and National Day Nurseries Association said the decision was "short sighted" and could put off "passionate and skilled" candidates from considering a career in childcare.
Doctors and nurses should receive special training so they can recognise the signs of domestic violence and ask questions, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has said. The BBC reports that guidance published by the watchdog aims to raise awareness among those coming into contact with victims.
Education Secretary Michael Gove will write to all schools in England about female genital mutilation following a campaign urging the government to intervene. The Guardian reports that Gove has agreed to write to all primary and secondary school head teachers to remind them of their duty to protect schoolgirls.
A new youth crime tsar for Kent will be appointed soon the area’s police and crime commissioner has said. The Kent Messenger reports that Ann Barnes will announce shortly a replacement for Paris Brown, who quit just six days after being appointed to the post last April when it emerged she had posted offensive remarks on Twitter.
Dudley Council has admitted that it may soon be unable to provide any youth services for young people in the area, if budget cuts continue. The council’s pot of cash for youth provision currently stands at £1.6 million per year – around half what it was in 2010/11. The Stourbridge News reports that Tim Crumpton, lead member for children’s services, said the council may not be able to provide any of its own youth services in a couple of years time if the cuts continue at the current pace.
One in six parents would leave their child unsupervised in order to get to work if breakfast clubs were cut, according to a YouGov poll of 2,000 working parents. ITV reports findings of the survey, which also revealed that 15 per cent of parents said they would not be able to find alternative childcare.
