Daily roundup January 12: Care applications, football inquiry, and nursery closure

Numbers of applications for children to be taken into care have fallen compared with the same month last year for the first time since May 2014. Figures published by Cafcass show that there were 1,068 applications in December 2016 compared with 1,103 in December 2015 - a fall of 3.2 per cent.


The independent review into allegations of child abuse in football has made its first call for evidence. The Guardian reports that the review, set up by the Football Association and led by Clive Sheldon QC, has written to all football clubs in England and Wales, amateur and professional, asking for information about allegations of child sexual abuse between 1970 and 2005.
 
 
A nursery was temporarily shut by Ofsted over inadequate leadership, teaching and behaviour. The Mirror reports that a report on Buttons Nursery in Stockport, Greater Manchester, highlighted "illegal" child-to-adult ratios and the medication of children without parental permission. It has since reopened after making improvements.


Children are working longer hours each day than their parents with more than 46 hours a week of schoolwork, extra-curricular clubs and homework. The Evening Standard reports that adding up all the time spent at school plus extra activities, young people have fuller schedules than their mums and dads, a study has found, with the average parent doing a 37.5 hour week.


Labour politicians in Trafford have demanded answers after discovering that almost 1,000 educational plans for children with special educational needs (SEN) were outsourced to a private company for completion. The Messenger reports that a freedom of information request to Trafford Council revealed that, since November 2014, 961 education health and care plans - which set out the support that children with SEN should receive - have been completed by Essex-based company Enhance EHC Ltd at a cost of £86,490.