Daily roundup: Playing fields, High Court ruling on social workers and Northamptonshire children in care

The Department for Education has rubberstamped the sell-off of more playing fields than previously disclosed since the general election, the Telegraph reports. Earlier this month it said the disposal of 21 playing fields had been approved since May 2010, but it has now upped that figure to 30. The department has apologised, saying it was provided with wrong data by officials. The paper also reported that ministers overruled advisers to approve sales five times.

A judge at London's High Court has ruled that the human rights of a mother and baby were violated after a newborn girl was taken into care just hours after her birth, while the mother was dosed up on morphine. The Daily Mail reports that the 26-year-old mum had been given the drug to recover from surgery after a difficult labour. The judge said there was an “overwhelming” case that the baby be removed, but told social workers to be more careful when seeking consent. Coventry Council admitted it got the decision-making process wrong and has apologised.

The numbers of young people going missing from foster parents or chidren’s homes in Northamptonshire has nearly doubled in two years. Figures obtained by the Northampton Chronicle and Echo show that 29 children in care in the county either ran away or went missing this year compared to 15 in 2010. The data shows an eight-year-old and a nine-year-old among those who have been reported missing.