Daily roundup: Safeguarding, school security, and children in care

Some young children are being given heroin-substitute methadone by parents with a serious drug addiction to "pacify" them, a charity has warned. The Guardian reports research by Adfam found that in the last five years there were 17 serious case reviews involving opiate substitutes.

The death of a teacher at a school in Leeds on Monday has raised concerns about security in the classroom. The Daily Mail reports that the incident has reignited the debate over whether pupils should automatically be screened for weapons upon entering school grounds. A 15-year-old boy is being questioned by police in connection with the incident at Corpus Christi Catholic College. 

Attempts to cut the high number of children in care in Norfolk have achieved a reduction of only two youngsters over the last five months. The Eastern Daily Press reports that Norfolk County Council has an overspend of £2.6m on children in care and wants to reduce the number it looks after. The latest figures show there were 1,147 looked-after children at 11 April, just two fewer than the 1,149 recorded in November 2013.

Special educational needs (SEN) reforms in England are being implemented too quickly, say charities. From September special needs statements will be replaced by education, health and care plans which aim to give more holistic support. But the National Autistic Society told the BBC that details of "the biggest reform of the SEN system in 30 years" had not yet been finalised.

A Welsh organisation aimed at helping children exposed to domestic abuse and violence has been given £2 million by the Big Lottery Fund. Charity Calan DVS will pilot an intervention project across Neath Port Talbot and Powys, ITV News reports. As well as working with children, it will help young people in abusive relationships and who demonstrate abusive and controlling behaviour.

A serious case review into abuse of a four-year-old boy by his mother’s boyfriend has found that health visiting and school nursing in East Sussex were under “considerable pressure” around the time the incident occurred, the Argus reports. The review concluded the assault could not be predicted, but that agencies could learn lessons. Cathie Pattison, independent chair of the East Sussex Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB), said: “The LSCB has produced an action plan and is working with all the agencies involved including the school, East Sussex County Council, Sussex Police and the NHS to ensure improvements have been made.”

And finally, Spanish children may soon be required to help out with housework, under a draft law that has been approved by parliament. The BBC reports that the measure, part of a wider child protection law, says that children under the age of 18 have an obligation to participate in all areas of family life, including "caring for the home and performing household tasks”. Alongside chores, children would also have to be respectful to their parents and teachers.