ISC Daily News Summary

According to The Telegraph, a number of lateral flow testing kits sent to schools are being investigated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for containing out-of-date guidance. By Henry Bodkin.

A parliamentary committee has warned the closure of playgrounds has contributed to "a pandemic of mental health problems" among children. By Laura Donnelly, The Telegraph.

Robert Peston, founder of Speakers for Schools, writes in The Sunday Times reflecting on the impact of COVID-19, arguing "helping young people get back on track is an obligation for us all".

The Guardian explores the launch of Headrest, a confidential phone service for headteachers struggling with the pressures of the pandemic. By Melissa Benn.

An article in Tes considers the implications of extending the school day to help pupils catch up on their learning. By William Stewart.

Figures show higher proportions of children are gaining places at their first choice of primary school in many areas across England, amid a drop in applications during the pandemic. By Kate Ng, The Independent.

Survey findings suggest the cost of childcare for children aged under three has risen significantly over the last year, with the average annual bill for a part-time nursery place increasing to more than £7,000. By David Byers, The Times.

Paul Carberry, the Scotland director of the Action for Children charity, writes in The Sunday Times calling for a "children's budget" to help tackle poverty and "equalise education opportunities for all".

Speaking to The Telegraph, Dame Rachel de Souza explains how she plans to work with officials to support children and young people affected by the pandemic. By Catherine Pepinster. Tes reports on the launch of The Big Ask, a survey created by the children's commissioner to ask millions of children across England about "what life is like for them, what their hopes and ambitions are, and what is holding them back". By Dave Speck.

Marcus Rashford MBE, a footballer and child poverty campaigner, is joining the children's food charity Magic Breakfast and Macmillan Children's Books to donate 50,000 free books to primary school pupils. The campaign aims to encourage children to read more and support those from disadvantaged backgrounds who lack access to books at home. By Sam Clark, iNews.

The Times reports some independent schools with campuses in China are 'moving away' due to tighter restrictions on what they can teach. By Emma Yeomans.

The Office for Students is set to publish new guidance instructing universities to provide "adequate and effective" training on how to prevent, and raise awareness of, sexual harassment. By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

The SNP has outlined plans for a new education programme, designed to encourage Scottish schoolchildren to "face the UK's colonial past" in history lessons inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. By Daniel Sanderson, The Telegraph.

The International English Spelling Congress has voted to promote Traditional Spelling Revised, a new system intended to make the English language easier for children to learn. By Sian Griffiths, The Sunday Times.