Daily roundup: Free school meals, policing and council cuts
Neil Puffett
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Small schools to get funding to deliver free school meals; taser use rises fivefold in five years; and Islington children's services hit with £4m cut, all in the news today.
Small schools will be given £3,000 of funding to extend or improve kitchen facilities in preparation for the delivery of free school meals. The Department for Education made the announcement as part of a package of measures designed to support schools through the delivery of the universal offer, which comes into force in September.
Taser use on children by police in London has risen fivefold since 2008, figures obtained by the Children’s Rights Alliance for England (Crae) have shown. The BBC reports that in 2008 the Metropolitan Police used stun guns on nine young people. In 2013 they were used on 53 young people.
Politicians in Islington have rubberstamped cuts of £4m from the children’s services budget with six senior positions and one management post being cut, according to the Islington Gazette. Islington Council said the reductions won’t put children in danger, but opponents said the cuts could place vulnerable children at risk.
Plans to limit police stop and search powers in England and Wales are being held up by Downing Street, it has been claimed. The BBC reports that senior Conservatives have told the Newsnight programme that Home Secretary Theresa May wrote to cabinet colleagues in December seeking approval to "reduce significantly" one type of stop and search, but despite setting a 12 December deadline, the changes are yet to be announced.
New research by Cauldwell Children shows that disabled children are missing out on much needed respite holidays abroad because their parents are concerned about access to adequate medical and practical support while overseas. The charity wants more to be done to help disabled children and their families feel confident about travelling abroad.
New guidance designed to help teachers understand the internet use of children with special educational needs (SEN) has been published by the Anti-Bullying Alliance. It reveals evidence of cyberbullying and will support teachers to help children with SEN to stay safe online.
