Articles by Date : May 01 2004 - May 31 2004

Kent pushed to limits as 'dumping ground' for looked-after children
Kent Council is prepared to name and shame a dozen local authorities in London and the South East which are continuing to use the county as a.... more
(13 May 2004 00:00)

Toni-Ann case raises new concerns over guardians' experience
The wisdom of reducing the qualification threshold for appointing guardians has been questioned after a review into the circumstances surrounding the.... more
(13 May 2004 00:00)

Hodge in children's centres cash plea
Regional development agencies were urged this week to invest in children's centres by children's minister Margaret Hodge. more
(13 May 2004 00:00)

'Extreme risk' boy claims rights' abuse
A 17-year-old boy, who claims his right to a "private and family life" was violated when he was held on remand in a high security adult prison, took.... more
(13 May 2004 00:00)

Warmer houses will cut fuel poverty
An £8.5m initiative to tackle fuel poverty is to target 7,000 homeowners in west London. more
(13 May 2004 00:00)

Funding boost for parenting support
Support services for families are to benefit from a £22.6m cash boost, children's minister Margaret Hodge announced this week. more
(13 May 2004 00:00)

Minister fends off amendments but agrees UN convention must apply
The children's commissioner must abide by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the government has conceded. more
(13 May 2004 00:00)

North East councils in staff pay row
Councils in the North East of England may be forced to pay out millions to care workers and other staff in claims for equal pay. more
(13 May 2004 00:00)

Court set for state support challenge
A High Court challenge to the government's decision to block state support to asylum seekers from the 10 accession countries will take place next.... more
(13 May 2004 00:00)

Child death cases may be reopened
A handful of the 258 cases involving people who were convicted for killing children aged under two may be reopened, the attorney general confirmed.... more
(13 May 2004 00:00)

Council goes its own way on flag system
East Sussex Council has shunned government recommendations to flag concerns about children on its secure electronic telephone directory, fearing the.... more
(13 May 2004 00:00)

Voluntary sector reluctant to take on statutory child protection role
The recruitment crisis in child protection is forcing the government to look to the voluntary sector for boosting child protection social worker.... more
(13 May 2004 00:00)

Time for a split?
Scottish members of the British Association of Social Workers will vote next week on whether they should end ties with public sector union Unison and.... more
(13 May 2004 00:00)

Dangerous thoughts
The government gives the impression that it is becoming more and more desperate in this post-Climbie era over what to do about our increasingly.... more
(13 May 2004 00:00)

Thursday 13 May 2004
Scottish council accused of racial discrimination Church of Wales investigates abuse case more
(13 May 2004 09:32)

Debate on direct payments
We asked:- Are local authorities doing enough to encourage the take up of direct payments? more
(12 May 2004 18:00)

Inquiring minds
Fran Gorman explains why there is an urgent need for the UK’s first ever inquiry into young people’s self-harming. more
(12 May 2004 17:21)

Research reviews
Children and citizenship Jean Hine Home Office online report 08/04 Citizenship: young people’s perspectives Jean Hine, Francesca.... more
(12 May 2004 16:54)

Lunch lessons
Hull Council leader Colin Inglis tells Katie Leason how free school meals for all will improve attendance, learning and health among the area’s.... more
(12 May 2004 16:44)

Connexions case notes
I went along to the local practitioners’ meeting last week. These meetings are a chance to learn about what is happening in our local authority and.... more
(12 May 2004 16:37)

Diary of a Children’s Fund manager
I met a group of head teachers last week to review a new service that they work together on. I’m not sure what the collective noun is for a group of.... more
(12 May 2004 16:35)

The pressure’s on
Last year, more than 600 young people rang ChildLine about how they felt overwhelmed by exam stress. As the exam season approaches, Lindsey Darking.... more
(12 May 2004 16:31)

Stub it out
Everyone wants to stop mothers smoking while pregnant. But can practitioners deliver the results government is demanding, writes Kate Coxon. more
(12 May 2004 16:20)

Minister condemns Scottish council after 'catalogue of failures'
Immediate action was promised by ministers following a damning indictment of social work in the Scottish Borders, writes Maggie Wood. more
(06 May 2004 17:37)

Needs must…
The government wants children with special needs to be taught in mainstream schools. But do the schools have the resources and how willing are they.... more
(12 May 2004 15:30)

Turfed out
The reality of gang culture in Britain is a far cry from the public perception of gun-toting drug barons. Mark Hunter reports. more
(12 May 2004 15:18)

What are the bare essentials?
For decades British governments looking to set minimum income levels have refused to investigate how much it costs to buy the essential goods and.... more
(12 May 2004 15:13)

Letters
Give young people under 18 the vote Young people will be disappointed by the Electoral Commission’s recommendation that they should continue.... more
(12 May 2004 15:10)

It’s official: Connexions is working
Connexions has won a stamp of approval from the National Audit Office, writes Katie Leason. more
(12 May 2004 15:08)

Mothers warned on smoking
Mothers who smoke more than six cigarettes a day during pregnancy are more likely to have babies who develop childhood disorders, according to a.... more
(12 May 2004 15:06)

Dismay at rejection of votes for under-18s
The national youth agency has reacted with dismay to the Electoral Commission’s recommendation that the minimum age for voting should remain at 18. more
(12 May 2004 15:03)

Families want better Youth clubs
Families with children want improved facilities for young people such as youth clubs more than any other local improvement, according to government.... more
(12 May 2004 15:01)

‘Children in B&Bs still at risk’
Thousands of homeless children will continue to live in bed and breakfast accommodation despite the government’s pledge to end its long-term use for.... more
(12 May 2004 14:58)

Concern over poor facilities for young people with mental illness
A shortage of specialist beds means young people with mental health problems have been admitted to hospital wards that fail to meet their needs, a.... more
(12 May 2004 14:53)

Connexions on track despite cash problems
Connexions partnerships are making good progress helping young people into work and education and are improving their advice and guidance services,.... more
(12 May 2004 14:49)

More antidepressants warnings
Some antidepressants can cause severe side effects and should not be given to children, researchers have warned. more
(12 May 2004 14:48)

Bad housing blights the future of children
Poor housing is affecting the health and education of more than a million children in Britain, according to a report by homelessness charity Shelter. more
(12 May 2004 14:40)

Unions go to school
The Trades Union Congress is to train young trade union members to go into schools and talk about work issues and the role of unions. more
(12 May 2004 14:35)

‘Television disorders’
The more television young children watch, the more likely they are to develop attention deficit disorder, according to a new study. more
(12 May 2004 14:33)

Most oppose ban on smacking, says poll
An opinion poll suggests most adults still oppose a ban on smacking children. more
(12 May 2004 14:31)

Nursery places to be free for toddlers
Two-year olds in poor areas will be offered free nursery places under a pilot scheme, the government has confirmed. Children aged three and four are.... more
(12 May 2004 14:29)

Clarke Launches cash incentives for over-16s
Young people are to begiven financial incentives to stay in education, the government has announced. more
(12 May 2004 14:24)

Government wants voluntary sector to boost child protection social workers
The recruitment crisis in child protection is forcing the government to look to the voluntary sector for boosting child protection social worker.... more
(12 May 2004 11:27)

Kent pushed to limits as 'dumping ground' for looked-after children
Kent Council is to name and shame a dozen local authorities in London and the South East which are continuing to use the county as a “dumping ground”.... more
(12 May 2004 11:04)

Wednesday 12 May 2004
Government to help nurses with childcare costs MMR families claim threats from drug firms more
(12 May 2004 09:52)

Hodge urges RDAs to invest in children's centres
Regional Development Agencies were urged this week to invest in children’s centres by children’s minister Margaret Hodge, writes Amy Taylor . more
(11 May 2004 17:59)

Probation staff to lobby parliament
Around 1,000 probation staff were expected to lobby parliament this week to urge MPs to sign an Early Day motion expressing concern about the new.... more
(11 May 2004 17:03)

Cash boost for family support services
Support services for families are to benefit from a cash boost of more than £22 million, children’s minister Margaret Hodge announced this week. more
(11 May 2004 17:02)

Tuesday 11 May 2004
Probation staff face competition Asylum legal aid 'abused' more
(11 May 2004 09:47)

GPs to detect failed asylum seekers
Government proposals designed to stop failed asylum seekers and others with no legal right to be in the UK from accessing free care from GPs are.... more
(10 May 2004 18:02)