Schools in England are struggling to support the 1.1 million pupils with special needs or disabilities (SEND) in mainstream classrooms, a report says. A survey of 1,100 school leaders found delays to assessments, insufficient budgets and cuts to local authorities were hampering the ability to cope. The study by The Key, which provides leadership and management support to schools, calls for increased funding. The government says it has increased funding for those with “high needs”. Department for Education (DfE) statistics published last year showed there were more than 1.3 million children in England – 15% of pupils – identified as having special educational needs or disabilities. Of these, 1.1 million are in mainstream schools rather than special schools. The research by The Key suggested: 82% of mainstream schools in England do not have sufficient funding and budget to adequately provide for pupils with SEND 89% of school leaders believe cuts to local authority services have had a detrimental impact on the support their school receives for pupils with SEND Three-quarters of schools have pupils who have been waiting longer than expected for assessment of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan 88% of school leaders think initial […] Read More
Breast cancer survivors could benefit from taking statins, scientists believe, after discovering that lowering cholesterol activity halves the chance of the disease returning in 10 years. Scientists have known for some time that the hormone oestrogen helps cancer to spread, which is why women are usually given anti-hormone treatments following chemotherapy and surgery. But a new study from the Institute of Cancer Research has shown that breast cancers use cholesterol to produce a molecule which has the same impact as oestrogen. The molecule – called 25-HC- acts like a fuel to allow cancer cells to keep growing. Lab trials showed that blocking the molecule prevents cancer spread by 50 per cent, a finding that cancer charities hailed as a ‘really crucial discovery.’ “Statins could be a valuable addition to breast cancer treatment, and that this warrants investigation in clinical trials”Dr Lesley-Ann Martin Separate trials also showed that women whose genes encouraged the production of the cholesterol molecule were twice as likely to die within in 10 years. The researchers suggest that taking statins to lower cholesterol could prevent breast cancer returning. “During the course of treatment, breast cancers, that are ‘fed’ by oestrogen, often become resistant to standard hormone therapy,” […] Read More
An axe-wielding motorist has been photographed confronting a man wielding a large knife, in a suspected road-rage incident in east London. The driver of a blue hatchback had jumped out of his car carrying a hatchet just as the backseat passenger of the car in front emerged brandishing a pink blade. Mitchell Gunn, a photographer who lives on West Road in Stratford, saw the men face off against each other for several minutes around 1pm on Tuesday before they drove off. No one was injured. The 48-year-old, who did not see what caused the row, quickly caught the shocking scene on camera. “Being an ex-military policeman I always keep my eye out to make sure there’s no suspicious characters around,” he told the Standard. “I was downstairs and heard a noise like an argument. I saw a man brandishing an axe, walking towards another guy. As soon as I saw the axe, I picked my camera up and fired off a few frames.” Mr Gunn said he suspected the row was caused by a disagreement over driving and did not think the pair knew each other. “You often have minor little altercations there,” he said, referring to the junction on […] Read More
Almost 75% of older children in England and Wales with diabetes are not getting key health checks, a study suggests. Data from 27,682 children and young people showed 25.4% of 12-year-olds have the seven recommended annual health checks, such as eye screenings. However, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, which carried out the audit, says the overall picture is one of improving care. Charity Diabetes UK said young people must be supported in early life. Future complications The report looked at data from children and young people with diabetes up to the age of 24 who attended paediatric diabetes units in England and Wales between April 2014 and the end of March 2015. Nearly all had type 1 diabetes requiring daily injections of insulin. The 2014/15 National Paediatric Diabetes Audit of youngsters in England and Wales found that those achieving “excellent diabetes control” – equivalent to a blood glucose level of less than 7.5% – rose from 15.8% in 2012-13 to 23.5% in 2014-15. It showed that 23% were now reducing their risk of future complications from the disease. Image copyright Thinkstock Guidelines from NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) state that all children with diabetes […] Read More
A French gardener has been jailed for 30 years for the premeditated murder of his British lover at her home in southern France in 2012. Jean-Louis Cayrou, of La Salvetat-Peyrales, was found guilty of murdering Patricia Wilson, 58, formerly of Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. Cayrou, 54, had denied killing her after their relationship ended. The jury deliberated for almost five hours at the Cour d’Assises de l’Aveyron in Rodez, near Toulouse. Gasps were heard from members of his family as he received his sentence, which he has 10 days to appeal against. Mrs Wilson’s mother, Jean Wilson, 84, said “justice has finally been done” following the verdict. Her daughter vanished from her hamlet near the village of Vabre-Tizac in August 2012. Her body has never been found. During his trial, which lasted a week, Cayrou said he visited Mrs Wilson’s house, panicked when he found blood and fled, fearing he would be blamed. ‘Unstable’ Cayrou is believed to have cut the electricity at Mrs Wilson’s home, after she returned from visiting her mother in England on 17 August 2012. He then killed Mrs Wilson, hitting her “very violently” at least twice and possibly with a weapon, general lawyer Manon Brignol […] Read More
The length of the UK road network covered by permanent average speed cameras has more than doubled since 2013, new figures have revealed. Research, obtained by the BBC’s The One Show, found permanent cameras were now positioned in 80 UK sites, covering 263 miles – a distance longer than the M6. The largest increase was in Scotland, where cameras were installed along a 100-mile stretch of the A9, in 2014. Transport Scotland said the cameras had helped reduce casualties on the road. Unlike traditional speed cameras, average speed cameras work by recording the time it takes a vehicle to travel between two positions on the road. Roadworks The research, conducted for the RAC Foundation, found the distance covered by the cameras in 2013 was 127 miles. More than 130 miles of road have been installed since then, it showed. The new data excludes sites where average speed cameras are deployed temporarily, such as to monitor speed limits through motorway roadworks. The RAC Foundation said the analysis was the first of its kind. The cameras now cover 29 miles of the A9, between Dunblane and Perth, and have been installed at intervals on single-carriageway sections of the same road between Perth […] Read More
Leading figures in the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union say they want to be able to scrap VAT on fuel to help the poorest households. Tories Michael Gove and Boris Johnson and Labour’s Gisela Stuart wrote in the Sun that the tax on energy bills cannot be scrapped because of EU rules. Meanwhile, the Remain campaign is focusing on businesses, saying they will be stronger and safer in the EU. There is one week left to register to vote in the EU referendum on 23 June. The Electoral Commission says that, even after recent surges in registrations, many people are still not signed up to vote. EU referendum: All you need to know Issues guide: Explore the arguments In their article, the Vote Leave politicians said they would seek to spend some of the cash saved by quitting the EU on cutting VAT from household gas and electricity bills, a tax imposed by a Conservative government in 1993. ‘Unfair and damaging’ “The least wealthy are hit particularly hard,” they wrote. “The poorest households spend three times more of their income on household energy bills than the richest households spend. As long as we are in the EU, […] Read More
Immigration officials are continuing to question 20 people, including two children, rescued from an inflatable boat off the Kent coast on Sunday. Those on board, 18 of whom are believed to be Albanian migrants, reportedly alerted their families in Calais after their boat started taking in water. They were rescued by the UK coastguard, but concerns have been raised that capsize tragedies seen in Greece or Italy could occur in the Channel. Two Britons are among the 20 held. A Home Office spokesman confirmed a woman and two children were aboard the inflatable boat that was rescued. He said a second vessel, believed to be linked to the inflatable that got into trouble, was discovered on the beach at Dymchurch. ‘Not doing enough’ Councillor Mary Lawes, UKIP group leader on Shepway District Council, said she was concerned for the security of the region as well as the safety of migrants seeking to cross the Channel in unsafe boats. She said: “We are not doing enough to control our coastline, the government has to address border controls, something has to be done to protect these people from harm and our borders.” David Monk, Conservative leader of the local authority, said he […] Read More
nternational football player Alan Pulido, who was abducted in north-east Mexico on Sunday, has been rescued, officials say. Mr Pulido, 25, was seized near Ciudad Victoria, in Tamaulipas state, after leaving a party. Authorities said he was found safe and sound. Pictures on Mexican media showed him with a bandaged hand. The striker plays for the Greek team Olympiakos and has made several appearances for Mexico’s national team. Read More
Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is to share a platform with Prime Minister David Cameron at a Remain rally later. They will jointly launch a Britain Stronger In Europe battle bus, despite Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn refusing to campaign with Mr Cameron. It comes after Mr Cameron had criticised Mr Khan’s “poor judgement” during the London mayoral election. Mr Khan defended his decision to campaign publicly with the Tory PM and said it was in London’s interest. Is it in London’s interest for me to hold grudges? Is it in London’s interests for the mayor of London to be at permanent war with the Conservative prime minister?” Mr Khan told ITV’s Peston On Sunday. “We’re never going to be best friends, but what is important is that the mayor of London argues the case for London and for Londoners to remain in the European Union. “This debate is far more important than David Cameron or me. “It’s about our city’s future and country’s future.” During London’s mayoral election race, Mr Cameron repeatedly attacked Mr Khan for having a history of sharing platforms with extremists, which Mr Khan rejected. At Prime Minister’s Question Time in the Commons some Labour MPs […] Read More
