Daily roundup: Child trafficking, GCSEs, and free childcare
Neil Puffett
Monday, September 2, 2013
Increase in number of trafficked children, pupils have to keep studying English and maths, and free childcare for deprived two-year-olds takes effect, all in the news today.
The number of children identified as victims of trafficking in the UK is on the rise. Figures published in a UK Human Trafficking Centre report show 2,255 victims of human trafficking were identified in the UK in 2012, up from 2,077 in 2011. A total of 549 of these were children in 2012, up 12 per cent on the 2011 figure of 490. Children’s rights charity Ecpat UK said the figures were an indication of the government’s “continued failure to make the UK a safe place for children”.
Local authorities are facing a shortfall of £9,000 per pupil for additional school places because central government funding does not cover the full cost. Analysis by London Councils found that although councils have strategies in place to create more places, insufficient resources from central government are “placing unprecedented pressure on councils’ already squeezed budgets”. Peter John, London Councils’ executive member for children’s services, said: “Councils are pulling out all the stops to create places, but London’s rising population, particularly at school age, means they are running to stand still. Frankly, this is just not sustainable.”
Around 130,000 two-year-olds from some of the poorest families in Britain become eligible for free childcare today. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will say today that the 15 hours a week of free early education for children will be "focused on helping the families that need it most.” The offer will be doubled to cover 260,000 children - around 40 per cent of two-year-olds - when it is extended next September.
Young people who fail to achieve at least a Grade C in English and maths GCSE will have to continue to study the subjects, the government has confirmed. The BBC reports that the change could affect more than 250,000 young people in education or training in England. It coincides with another new policy, which sees the education participation age raised to 17. The age will rise again to 18 in 2015.
And finally, a Norwich youth arts venue has received a £180,000 boost towards its work with young people. The Norwich Evening News reports that The Garage will receive the Arts Council England funding over a three-year period. Darren Grice, director of The Garage, said the cash will help it to inspire and nurture the next generation of young performers in the city and county.