Daily roundup: Child benefit changes, care proceedings pilot, and how childcare can 'make work pay'

Households where at least one person earns more than £50,000 are to receive letters this week about their child benefit being reduced or stopped. The letters from HM Revenue & Customs explain the new “high income child benefit charge” that takes effect from 7 January. For those with an income of more than £60,000, the new tax will make up 100 per cent of the amount of child benefit. If income is between £50,000 and £60,000, the charge is gradually increased to 100 per cent of the child benefit. It has been estimated that as many as 500,000 parents may have to complete self-assessment tax forms as a result of the change. The change will cost families with three children and at least one parent earning more than £60,000 about £2,450 a year.

A pilot project to speed up care proceedings has more than halved the duration of cases. The initiative, being trialled in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham Councils, began on 1 April this year. It involves social workers agreeing to deliver their assessments promptly and to a set standard, and judges placing the child’s timescales at the heart of their decision-making. The duration of care proceedings cases has dropped from a previous average of 50 to 60 weeks to just 20.3 weeks. Andrew Christie, tri-borough director of children’s services, said: “It is still early days for the care proceedings pilot, but initial results show it is already having a dramatic effect in speeding up children’s care cases and forging a more common-sense approach between our three councils, Cafcass and the family courts.”

Government must provide extra funding to make childcare affordable for parents, it has been claimed. United for All Ages said many parents are finding it difficult to “make work pay” because childcare costs in Britain are among the highest in Europe. The call comes as the Resolution Foundation publishes its latest report into the cost of childcare which found that, in some cases, parents are only be £4 a week better off as a result of working. United for All ages has also called on the Treasury to review and simplify current funding. Denise Burke, director of United for All Ages, said: "We need to ensure that all the various funding streams are used as effectively as possible through a Treasury review. Then we must increase childcare funding and direct help much better.”

Academics have raised concerns about introducing abstinence education into UK schools as a substitute for comprehensive sex and relationships education. Researchers from Sheffield Hallam University say existing evidence fails to support the view that teaching abstinence from sexual activity helps avoid unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and HIV. Steve Slack, director of the centre for sexual health and HIV in Sheffield said research from the US points to negative outcomes associated with abstinence education including increased risks of unprotected sex. Sheffield Hallam is hosting an event to debate the issues surrounding abstinence education involving politicians, teachers, youth workers, young people and their parents.

Almost two thirds of a million pounds has been invested in a home for older looked-after children in Jersey. Work to refurbish the newly named Field View home was carried out following a review into providing supported care for young people in Jersey after the age of 18, by childcare expert Andrew Williamson. The building has been designed to give more of a “bed-sit feel”, but with a communal lounge, dining room, kitchen and utility room. Phil Dennett, head of children’s services at Jersey's health and social services department, said: “It is very important that all our looked-after children have the right home environment, and teenagers who are in our care need different kinds of support as they get ready to live independently and start work."

And finally, with just weeks to go before elections for police and crime commissioner positions, a former member of staff at crime reduction charity Nacro has pulled out. Mervyn Barrett had been standing independently in Lincolnshire but, according to the BBC, he withdrew from the election in Lincolnshire, after the resignation of the campaign manager. The BBC reports that Barrett has contacted Lincolnshire police over concerns about the conduct of the campaign manager.