Daily roundup 27 June: Children at risk, technology, and sugary drinks
Jess Brown
Monday, June 27, 2016
Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw warns that hundreds of thousands of children living with their families are "at risk"; children found to use technology for 32 hours per week; and sports drinks warning issued, all in the news today.
There are 320,000 children across England who are "at clear and present risk of harm," Ofsted's chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw has said. The Times reports that Wilshaw has warned that these children would be safer in foster care and children's homes than staying with families, where their lives are potentially blighted by domestic violence and the abuse of drugs or alcohol by adults in the home.
Millions of children are missing out on time with their family because they are spending too long using technology, it has been claimed. The Daily Mail reports that more than half of families surveyed allow their children use technology for 32 hours per week, while almost three quarters of parents let their children use screens for an hour before they go to school.
Research from Cardiff University has found that 68 per cent of children drink sugary sports drinks at least once a week. The Daily Mail reports that half of these children drink sports drinks for "social reasons," and researchers have warned that consuming these drinks regularly can cause obesity, diabetes, heart disease and poor oral health.
More than 1,000 Scottish schoolchildren, some as young as seven, are self-harming every year, it has been claimed. The Daily Record reports that members of the Scottish Parliament have called for a new focus from government on helping troubled young people in Scotland.
Cheshire West and Chester Council has launched a review of services for disabled children. The local authority has said options include either maintaining the range of services for disabled children - while acknowledging that service levels could reduce, stretching services across wider teams, or creating a specialist service. The Chester Chronicle reports that the consultation will last for 12 weeks.
The parents of a seven-year-old who died on the cardiac ward at Bristol Children's Hospital have said they are concerned the inquiry into their son's care will not uncover the truth. Wales Online reports that around 10 families are believed to be taking legal action against the trust after a review opened two years ago into accusations of a string of incidents of neglect and mistreatment of babies and children with heart problems.
