ISC Daily News Summary

Everyone at ISC would like to wish all Daily News Summary readers a very merry Christmas and prosperous 2009. The Daily News Summary service will continue during the Christmas holiday, with the exception of Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Daily Telegraph
A letter on public benefit in light of the recent guidance from the Charity Commission.
Letters: Charity war on schools (Daily Telegraph)

Daily Telegraph
Children who are read to on a daily basis are likely to do better when they start school and have less behaviour problems, a study has concluded. The Institute of Education's study found a correlation between mothers who believe it is important to teach their toddler the alphabet, to count, and read to them regularly and the child's achievement at the age of five. The Government-commissioned study looked at the foundation stage profile, a teacher's assessment of a child's achievement after one year at school, and assessed the cognitive abilities of just over 8,000 five-year-olds.
Reading to children 'gives a head start' (Daily Telegraph)

Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph pays tribute to Candida Tobin, inventor of the Tobin Music System which teaches children of all ages to read, write and compose music.
Lives remembered - Candida Tobin (Daily Telegraph not online)

Guardian
The world's ambassadors have been saved from social embarrassment after 10 tons of fake Ferrero Rocher chocolates were seized in Paris before they could be sold on the party circuit. The hoard of 33,000 boxes of fake chocolates is believed to be the biggest seizure of a counterfeit, everyday foodstuff discovered in France. Ferrero, which has promoted its Rocher line of round, hazelnut chocolates as classy and "a sign of good taste", is said to be suing the importer.
Monsieur, with these Rocher you would not be spoiling us (Guardian)