The Department of Health has issued a consultation on guidance to support local authorities implementing the changes to chief officer portfolios made by the Children Act 2004. The consultation ends on 28 July. It can be downloaded from www.dh.gov.uk
School swimming consultation
The Department for Education and Skills has issued a consultation on proposals to support a national top-up swimming programme for pupils having difficulty reaching the Key Stage 2 standard. The consultation focuses on how to deliver the scheme, how funding could best be used, and what support schools and others will need to ensure that delivery is effective. Consultation ends 4 July 2005. It can be downloaded from www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/conDetails.cfm?consultationId=1328
Facts and Figures on ... young people smoking
Figures from 2003 show that 26 per cent of 15-year-old girls smoke, compared with 18 per cent of 15-year-old boys.
More boys than girls have never smoked while 13 per cent of girls are occasional smokers, compared with 10 per cent of boys.
- Key data on adolescence 2005. 5th ed. Brighton: Trust for the Study of Adolescence, 2005. More interesting facts and figures are available in ChildStats, a quarterly compilation of statistics on children published by NCB's Library. To subscribe call 0207 843 6008 or email library@ncb.org.uk
Child trafficking
The issue of child trafficking has steadily risen up the political and social agenda in recent years. It is important that policies and practices related to this problem are led from a childcare perspective.
- Information taken from Highlight no. 214. Free to NCB members, Highlights are comprehensive research summaries on a wide range of topics. Email membership@ncb.org.uk
- NCB (England and Northern Ireland) works in partnership with Children in Scotland and Children in Wales. For more details on issues and activities in Scotland or Wales visit www.childreninscotland.org.uk (0131 228 8484) or www.childreninwales.org.uk (029 2034 2434).
