Daily roundup: Behavioural problems, human trafficking, and children's centres

Children attending nurseries and those looked after by childminders are more likely to develop behavioural problems such as hyperactivity, a study has claimed. The Telegraph reports that research by academics at Oxford University found some forms of early education contributed to bad behaviour and could be linked to emotional problems. The study, based on an analysis of almost 1,000 children, found those who spent more time in day care centres were more likely to be hyperactive, and those receiving more care by childminders were more likely to have peer problems.

Judges will have the power to sentence human traffickers to life in prison as part of tougher sanctions. The BBC reports that ministers are planning new legislation to simplify the law on slavery, and make it easier to bring prosecutions. The number of cases of human trafficking discovered in the UK has risen by 25 per cent in the last year.

Eleven children’s centres in Essex have been earmarked for closure in a bid to save £2.5m by 2016. The Essex County Standard reports that under Essex County Council plans, services at each threatened centre will be merged with a neighbouring one, in some instances several miles away. A consultation on the plans will run until Thursday 5 December, with the changes coming into force next April.

Councillors are urging the leaders of Bath and North East Somerset Council to rethink plans to reduce early years spending by £2.3m over the next two years. According to Now Bath, members of the early years, children and youth policy development and scrutiny panel want council leaders to seek savings from elsewhere. Councillor Michael Evans said the administration needs to “undertake some serious work” around the proposals before setting its budget in February.

The interim head of the Al-Madinah free school has accepted a critical Ofsted report and admits the setting has a “whole range of problems”. The Guardian reports that Stuart Wilson plans to focus on implementing a “basic infrastructure” before working on teaching and learning in order to turn around the faith school, which was declared as being “in chaos” by Ofsted in a report leaked earlier this week.

All 10- and 11-year-olds in Wales could be taught about domestic violence following a successful pilot at two primary schools in Carmarthenshire. According to the BBC, children took part in a six-week project designed to help them to recognise signs of danger in relationships. Housing association Hafan Cymru, which runs the project, is hoping to extend it to other schools.