Internet providers will be made to block pornography to households in the UK unless they choose to receive it under measures announced by Prime Minister David Cameron. The BBC reports that Cameron intends to act to prevent easily available online pornography “corroding childhood”.
A total of 750 children have been reported to the authorities since 2005 as possible future extremists or at risk of radicalisation. The Telegraph reports that 750 school age children, including more than 100 under the age of 12, have been referred to a government project. The Channel project, run by the Home Office and Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), is designed to stop vulnerable people being drawn in to extremism.
Children across the country could travel on public buses for free in the future, under plans being drawn up by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. The Telegraph reports the policy could be announced later this year as part of a package of measures to help families. The newspaper said the scheme would help older children become more independent rather than relying on parents for transport.
Parents who let their children get sunburnt are guilty of neglect and should be referred to social services, according to skin cancer campaigners. The Daily Mail reports that the charity Burned Children’s Club founder Pat Wade said: “‘If a child comes into an A&E ward after abuse you phone social services. I’m not saying health staff should do that for every parent who brings in a child with sunburn but they should use their own initiative.” The recent heat wave has caused a rise in severe sunburn cases among children.
Increasing numbers of young people face a future of living at home with their parents because house prices and rents are set to soar by 2020. The Guardian reports that an estimated 3.7m young people will be “forced” to live with their parents by 2020. A Housing Federation report predicts that House prices in England will soar by 42 per cent in seven years time, with rents rising even more.
And finally... Education secretary Michael Gove is planning to tour England in the autumn to win over headteachers against his reforms, the Times reports. According to the newspaper, Gove’s roadshows will include giving speeches at the main teaching union conferences in the spring. A source told them: “He [Gove] wants to do a series of roadshows in the autumn where he will go to places like Derby and meet audiences of head teachers.”
