Daily roundup: Health visiting, exams in Wales and Ofsted proposals for childminders

A new Institute of Health Visiting has been launched to provide a voice for the profession and keep practitioners up to speed with the latest research and practice. The body, which has been set up as an independent charity, was officially unveiled by health minister Dan Poulter. Prime Minister David Cameron said: “I am delighted to welcome the new Institute of Health Visiting. As I have said on a number of occasions, health visitors are vital in improving the health and wellbeing of children, their families and the wider community.”

Students in Wales should continue to sit GCSEs and A-levels as part of a revamped qualifications system, according to an independent report. The review of 14 to 19 education and training calls for more challenging GCSEs testing literacy and numeracy, as well as the creation of a new body to set and regulate exams. Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: “The report appears to be well-balanced and reflects many of the issues raised by the NASUWT during the consultation process. The recommendation to retain GCSEs and A-levels underlines that, despite claims to the contrary, these are valuable qualifications.”

The National Childminding Association (NCMA) has rejected the suggestion that childminders should be linked to group early years settings. The proposal was made by Ofsted following the publication of its annual report, which said childminders are struggling to deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to the same standard as group settings. Liz Bayram, joint chief executive at NCMA, said she is “very concerned” about the plans which “do not recognise the competitive market between childminders and group settings”. “These ideas were rejected when the EYFS was first introduced and again in the recent Tickell review, so we are sad to see them being explored yet again,” she said.

A review into whether the Waterhouse sexual abuse inquiry failed to investigate allegations that fell within its remit has begun, the BBC reports. The independent review, chaired by Mrs Justice Macur, will examine the way in which the Waterhouse inquiry into the abuse of children in care in the Gwynedd and Clwyd Council areas was conducted. Mrs Justice Macur said: “I intend robustly to examine recent allegations that the abuse of children in care in North Wales was not investigated in the course of the 'Waterhouse Inquiry' and if not, why not.”

The number of hospital admissions for drug poisoning have risen by nearly 60 per over the past decade, with young people most likely to require treatment, latest statistics show. Health and Social Care Information Centre figures reveal there were 12,300 hospital admissions in England for drug poisoning in 2011/12 - 58 per cent more than in 2000/01. More 16- to 24-year-olds (2,900) were admitted than any other age group.

And finally, academics at Cambridge University say they have developed a test that can spot children at risk of developing depression or anxiety. The Guardian reports that the team believes screening children at the age of 11 or 12 could prevent scores of cases. A study into a computer test system found that children who performed poorly were between two and eight times more likely to be depressed a year later than those who scored well.