NATIONAL CHILDCARE WEEK SPOTLIGHTS
'HE WHO CARES WINS' TO ENCOURAGE
MORE MEN INTO CHILDCARE

In the lead up to Fathers Day on 15 June, the theme of National
Childcare Week 2003 will be "men and childcare", focusing on men's roles
both working in childcare and as active fathers. It will explore why we
need more men in childcare, what is stopping men from caring for
children and how men could be encouraged to play a more active role in
childcare.

National Childcare Week on 9-15 June will feature national activities
including:
* a MORI survey of public attitudes towards men working in
childcare
* 'He who cares wins', a major national conference on men
caring for children, on Tuesday 10 June
* an art competition for children to paint or draw their
male hero, organised with Bright Horizons Family Solutions and Nursery
World
* a new report on key policy issues surrounding men and
childcare
* famous fathers talking about their role as carers

National Childcare Week is part of National Sure Start Month which will
celebrate services for children and families. This June National Sure
Start Month will open doors to thousands of early education, childcare,
health and family support services, celebrating all the options
available to parents and families.

NEW DADS WANT LION’S SHARE OF THE CARE

Forget the “old-fashioned father” who works long hours and sees little of his children except at weekends…“today’s Dad" wants to spend more time with his children and ” would even prefer to be staying at home to look after the kids! New government legislation will help him to do just that.

A nationwide survey conducted by the number one selling children's medicine brand Calpol in association with Bounty has revealed that almost half of all dads (45%) would stay at home to look after their children instead of going out to work “if they could”. Four out of five dads also said they would like to spend more time with their children – reflecting the fact that British men work the longest hours in Europe .

Although it’s estimated that 39% of new dads currently don’t take paternity leave, the survey showed a massive 68% would like to make use of the Government’s new paid paternity leave arrangements if possible. And the vast majority of dads questioned (98%) did not feel that becoming a father would compromise their career.

“The fact that men want to help more with the children is a push-and-pull issue,” says psychologist Professor Cary Cooper, professor of organisational psychology at the Manchester School of Management, UMIST .

“The push comes from the fact that work is much more stressful for men than it’s ever been before, with longer hours, constant pressure and more job insecurity than ever before. The pull comes from men saying: ‘Maybe there’s more to life than just climbing up the greasy pole’. It’s a pull towards their partners and their children because men are starting to appreciate family life more. Employers tend to be 'bottom-line' orientated and less loyal these days but families are there for the long-term.”

Chief executive of Parentalk , Tim Mungeam commented: “It seems that we’ve finally realised what a great thing being a fully involved dad is. Sure, it’s sometimes exhausting, often exasperating and always challenging but it’s fantastic for us and fantastic for our kids”.

The reason that the dads surveyed said their careers would not be compromised by fatherhood is, said Professor Cooper, the hope that employers now have a more positive attitude to flexible working arrangements and the importance of work-life balance. "This changing attitude of employers may also enable men to be more focused and prioritise successfully during work and therefore achieve that balance," says Professor Cooper

However, the Calpol survey highlights that Dads often feel ill-prepared for parenthood. More than a third admitted that they felt helpless, apprehensive or overwhelmed during their baby’s birth and one in five worry about their child’s health afterwards.

“Invariably, it’s still the woman who’s the primary carer in a family and she’s got her own mother and friends as role models, plus endless magazines and books on childcare to help her,” comments Professor Cooper.

“But men haven’t got these positive role models because their fathers rarely got involved in the childcare and, unlike women, they have few educational outlets like magazines to provide them with basic information about childcare practices.”

To address the concerns highlighted by the survey and support dads in a more practical way, Calpol has produced the Pregnant Dad’s Rescue Pack, which provides information and advice on not only surviving but enjoying pregnancy and the birth of a new child. The pack also includes information on the new government legislation on paternity rights. The Calpol Pregnant Dad's Rescue Pack is available free to all new and prospective parents by calling 02380 628 274.

And finally, it seems that dads are not just becoming more selfless when it comes to sharing the parenting responsibilities, but also with their partners too. Over a third of dads surveyed worried about lack of time with their partner but only 16% were concerned about losing time for themselves. “By participating more in family life, dads will have more time with their partner anyway which can only be a good thing,” says Professor Cooper.

The Calpol survey also revealed:
• Sleepless nights are the worst aspect of parenthood for both mums and dads.
• One in four women surveyed had opted for a planned or “elective” caesarean while 60% had one due to complications during the birth.
• A massive 84% of dads chose to be at the birth and over half of them said they felt “emotional” during the labour.
• More than half the mums questioned said parenthood had exceeded their expectations although 59% cited exhaustion as one of the main emotions of motherhood!

Onscreen testing for basic and key skills qualifications is being rolled out
nationally by awarding body Edexcel and its Irish counterpart CCEA, with
thirty training centres already lined up to offer them. The launch follows
extensive piloting across the United Kingdom in 2001 and 2002.

In addition to the live basic and key skills tests, both partners have
trialled GCSE exams using the onscreen technology, although these were not
live tests. The pilots were held in Northern Ireland and across England
during January of this year.

The onscreen tests will improve candidate registration, the delivery and
marking of examinations and the analysis of results. With the whole process
carried out electronically the tests have been designed and validated with
the same rigour as traditional paper-based exams.

Training centres download the test from the central computer and then choose
a convenient date, within a three-week time frame, to sit it. On test day
students enter their personal identity number code that gives them access to
their test. The electronic papers are then uploaded back to Edexcel's main
computer where the results are calculated. The only time information is
online is when the tests are in transit between the centre's protected
computer system and the main computer. This also reduces the dependency of
the internet during the running of the test itself. During this time they
are protected by highly advanced encryption codes.

Paul Humphries, General Manager of e-Business at Edexcel said: "Onscreen
testing benefits the student, the training centre and whole examination
system. The pilots showed that it works well and that it provides students
with a new, innovative way of gaining qualifications. At present thirty
centres are in the process of installing the software to offer them, but
this will increase over the coming months. It is important that the roll
out is controlled, so that centres are prepared and we can offer the initial
support they need."

Onscreen tests also offer flexibility to training centres and students.
They can be scheduled well in advance and can be rescheduled at very short
notice. In the event of a fire or an emergency they can be paused and then
resumed, without danger of them being tampered with. Students sitting
different tests can do so at the same time and in the same room over the
same system.

Muna Henry, Learning Venue Manager at North West London College's The
Learning Hub, said: "The onscreen tests were a great success for us and the
students. By removing the need for paper the whole process was streamlined
and much more efficient. We didn't have to worry about receiving or handing
out papers or collating them at the end of the test and posting them.
Onscreen tests provide us with greater flexibility as we can decide the date
they are to be taken. We can also have students sitting different tests at
the same time."

Amy Mayhew, from Laing Training Centre in Edmonton, London, said: "We had
excellent feedback from students of all ages. Using computers is a big part
of learning and everyday life that it is a natural progression to use them
to test people. Many students taking basic and key skills are returning to
learning after many years so a new fresh approach does wonders for their
confidence."

Humphries continues: "We have started piloting GCSE exams onscreen but they
are in the early stages of development. However, we are getting positive
feedback and these tests could well be a viable option for the future."

NATIONAL SURE START MONTH OPENS DOORS FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO EARLY EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE

Parenthood can be the best times but also the busiest with work and family. Hectic parents often do not have the time to find out about the many supporting services from early education and childcare, health and family support which can help them juggle a demanding life style. National Sure Start Month, this June, gives parents a unique opportunity to find out about the thousands of services available for children and families by the numerous events which will be staged for parents and families to join in.

All you need to do is visit our website at www.nationalsurestartmonth.com to find out about activities that are being held in your local community and how you can access the great services to help support your family.

One of the key elements to a successful family life is good childcare:

Did you know that ... the first ever play centres were set up in schools way back in the 1880s

Did you know that ... Danny from Hearsay started his working life as a nursery worker

Did you know that ... Registered childminders provide at least 3 million hours of childcare a week - for over 330,000 children

Sponsored by Sure Start, a new government unit in the Department for Education and Skills and the Department of Work and Pensions, Sure Start Month is being organised by Kids Clubs Network in conjunction with the leading childcare charities.

The charities including Daycare Trust, National Childminding Association, National Day Nurseries Association, Pre-School Learning Alliance and Kids Clubs Network will each be holding events in specific weeks:

Events

1 - 8 June National Day Nurseries Week

7 - 13 June Pre-school Playweek

9 - 15 June National Childcare Week

14 - 21 June National Childminding Week

23 - 30 June Kids' Clubs Week

National Sure Start Month gives parents a great chance to celebrate early education services and childcare whilst finding out what is available for their children.

Loughborough firm take the lead in toy safety

An innovative Loughborough University spin out company, Laser Optical Engineering, is playing a key role in ensuring the safety of toys by testing for potentially harmful radiation levels from lasers and light emitting diodes (LEDs).

In today’s demanding consumer environment, toys are increasingly becoming laden with electronic gadgets to keep pace with children’s high expectations. As hundreds of new products feature lasers and LEDs, safety has become a number one concern for both manufacturers and consumers. This is compounded by the move by manufacturers from radio controllers to infra red LEDs due to concerns brought about by mobile phones.

Whilst toy safety standards have been in place for many years, they are constantly being updated to ensure the burgeoning tide of new products do not pose health hazards to children. New EC directive BSEN 50088 Annex I states that electrical and battery operated toys ‘may not emit harmful radiation’.

Dr John Tyrer, Director of Laser Optical Engineering, welcomes this new directive. “Product compliance testing for toys is a crucial measure for keeping within the law and ensuring children’s safety.” He continues, “You simply can’t issue guidelines on how children should play with toys. Flashing lights are fascinating. Children might peer at a light display closely – or even try to take a toy to pieces – to satisfy their curiosity. This is why we must ensure that laser and LED features on toys have low radiation levels.”

The risk from higher radiation levels depends upon the wavelength (colour), power and duration of exposure to the light. Test regulations detailed in BSEN60825 layout specific boundaries under which the light is considered safe. Concerns in breaching these boundaries in children’s toys are that they may cause both short or long term damage to eyesight.

In general most LEDs are safe, however advances in technology mean that more efficient intense high power LEDs are becoming more predominate in such applications as lighting, and these could present a potential risk.

Testing involves determining the exact wavelength, power and illumination characteristics in such a manner that direct comparisions can be made to the potential damage caused by intense light.

Laser Optical Engineering has over 20 years’ experience in product compliance, and provides certification of numerous consumer goods including toys to ensure that they comply with the latest European and world standards. Dr Tyrer is an expert in the field of laser and LED testing. He acts as an advisor on LEDs and lasers and provides laser safety advice to governments, research bodies, companies, universities, local authorities, venues, media and hospitals.

Celebrities back The Children's Society phone line first

Children's charity pioneers a fresh look to fundraising with its phone line
campaign. Call and enjoy the Gift of Giving 09065 15 16 17

The Children's Society, one of the UK's most innovative children's
charities, is today
(February 24) launching its pioneering 'Gift of Giving' phone fundraising
campaign. The charity aims to raise £1 million* and hopes to reach a younger
generation of givers by inviting them to call 09065 15 16 17, to enjoy
giving. It's the call that's a gift.

Calls cost £1.50** per minute and in return, callers can listen to various
celebrities including Prime Minister, Tony Blair who personally recorded an
insightful story concerning how he felt as a 10 year old when his father
suffered a stroke, and Olympic Silver medallist, Jamie Baulch who talks of
the sacrifices he has made throughout his life in his quest to become a top
athlete.

Atomic Kitten band members, Liz and Jenny, actor, Rupert Graves, and
children's TV presenter, Tess Daly have all cast themselves into the shoes
of 'real life' disadvantaged children by recording stories that highlight
the support these children have received from projects run all over the
country by The Children's Society.

Other celebrities from all walks of life who committed to the campaign
include, actress Tamzin Outhwaite, songwriter and musician Ronan Keating, TV
presenter Gail Porter, fashion designer Betty Jackson and television chat
show host and comedian Graham Norton. These have provided messages of
support which can be seen on the Gift of Giving campaign website,
www.giftofgiving.info <http://www.giftofgiving.info>.

The Children's Society's fundraising director Stephen Blunden said "We need
to get a new generation of supporters on board for the future and to do
this, we need to talk their language.

"Gift of Giving is a mechanism we believe they will understand and enjoy. It
appeals to young people who have grown up with new technology. Many have
more disposable income than previous generations, and, as prime time TV
programmes have shown, are happier to spend it on the telephone."

Callers can also listen to a specially commissioned campaign song called
Starchild, a dance track donated to the charity by South London duo Sulis,
downloadable as a mobile phone ring tone.

Stephen Blunden added: "Premium rate lines have become an acceptable
revenue stream in our cashless society. It is quick, easy and secure. The
public's acceptance of new technologies has opened new and important
fundraising streams for us. Instead of rattling a tin at you we are asking
you to pick up the phone. It couldn't be easier.

"Through Gift of Giving we are pioneering a new way of donating, as
innovative as our work with the most vulnerable children and young people in
the UK today."

The 'Gift of Giving' campaign launches with a major advertising campaign
featuring a series of celebrity three line tags advertised in national
newspapers and magazines, on local commercial radio, in a London Underground
poster campaign and on a dedicated website, www.giftofgiving.info In
addition, the Children's Society is using a targeted viral email inviting
staff to forward the 'Gift of Giving' campaign message to three friends and
relatives and to grow the campaign through known contacts.

Liz and Jenny, Atomic Kitten say:
"Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed in life whatever their
background. We think that the work The Children's Society does to help
disadvantaged kids is fantastic and we would like to wish them lots of luck
with their 'Gift of Giving' campaign. Dial the 'Gift of Giving' phone line
on 09065 15 16 17 to hear us read the true life stories of children that
have been helped by The Children's Society."

Tamzin Outhwaite, TV actress, says:
"When I filmed Out of Control, a drama about young offenders, I saw first
hand the way young people are dealt with when they get into trouble with the
law. It made me think that maybe there's another way. The Children's
Society is campaigning for changes in the youth justice system and anything
that raises funds for this vital work gets my approval. Ring up the Gift of
Giving line on 09065 15 16 17 and make your donation."

Response to the BBC Hitting Home series of programmes.

'Barnardo's is delighted that the BBC has chosen to highlight the very serious issue of domestic violence with the Hitting Home season of programmes, with the clear message that domestic violence is never acceptable. We, together with other agencies, have been consulted on children's issues for the programming.

'Tomorrow (February 13), Barnardo's is running a workshop to support the findings of our report 'Bitter Legacy - The emotional effects of domestic violence on children.' The report portrays the plight of children for whom witnessing the violence of adults in the home, is a regular occurrence. It looks at Barnardo's work to help affected families, and tells the stories of some of the children who come to our projects.

'Even when a child is not physically hit, domestic violence is an abuse of children. It is pervasive and long lasting. The distress of children witnessing violence is real and often leads to lasting effects.'

Veggie parents stand firm against family hostility

More than half of vegetarian parents who have decided to raise their children on a meat-free diet face negative pressure from their relatives. A major new Animal Aid survey reveals that family members - other than their own children - are the most hostile of all the groups with whom veggie parents come into contact. These groups include teachers, doctors, health visitors and other parents. Most support comes from friends of the veggie parents.

Nearly 800 vegetarian parents from around the UK took part in the survey, which is published to mark the start, on March 1, of Veggie Month - the annual nation-wide celebration of the meat-free diet organised by Animal Aid.

Despite encountering prejudice and misplaced advice, the survey results show that most vegetarian parents succeed in bringing their children up veggie without real difficulty.
Of the 81% of vegetarian parents_ who are raising their children on a vegetarian diet - either from birth or after the parents themselves gave up meat - 54% have faced negative pressure from other family members, while 20% have received encouragement. Many reported that certain relatives or friends secretly feed their children meat behind their backs. Almost all respondents said that they wanted a better service from supermarkets. This included improved labelling and more child-orientated vegetarian products.

Said Animal Aid Director Andrew Tyler:
For the first time, veggie parents have spoken out about the prejudice they can face when following their conscience and giving their children a diet that is both healthy and animal-friendly. That most are undeterred by the negative pressure is testimony to the strength of their own convictions and to the common cause they find with a rapidly increasing number of other veggie families.'

• Building a veggie future: Animal Aid's Vegetarian Parents' Questionnaire (available from February 25 in hard copy, or at: www.animalaid.org.uk) describes, in their own words, the experiences of veggie parents throughout the UK

NEW RESEARCH CONFIRMS PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF CHILD BEDWETTING
NATIONAL CAMPAIGN IS LAUNCHED TO TACKLE DISCRIMINATION AND IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING AMONG CHILDREN

A new survey highlights the psychological and social impact of bedwetting on children and reveals worrying levels of exclusion and bullying. If the condition is not managed effectively, it can have a dramatic effect on a child's life.

• Over a third of sufferers whose friends know about their problem admitted that
some are no longer friends with them and nearly a fifth have been laughed at and
picked on as a result of their condition'.

• Over half of children who wet the bed indicated that they cannot stay away from home at a friend's house or on a school trip'.

Research was also conducted among non-sufferers and although half of them understand that sufferers cannot help it', they admit to discriminating against children who do wet the bed with nearly 20% admitting that they tease other children because of it' 1. As a result, over 70% of children who wet the bed keep their condition a secret for fear of being bullied and victimised'.

To help address the severe lack of understanding about bedwetting among both children and parents a nation-wide awareness campaign, led by ERIC, the national bedwetting charity, is being launched during National Bedwetting Awareness Week, commencing 12th May 2003. The campaign, which is being lead by School Nurses in schools across the country, aims to educate children about the condition and the support mechanisms available to them both in and out of school. This initiative builds on the success of last year's campaign, which tackled parental misconceptions about nocturnal enuresis, the medical name for bedwetting.

Penny Dobson, Director of ERIC (Enuresis Resource and Information Centre), said, "Bedwetting is an extremely common childhood disorder affecting over half a million children in the UK - it is both disappointing and shocking that this common condition still remains stigmatised among children and misunderstood among parents 2.

"Bedwetting can be successfully treated, enabling children to live their lives to the full and interact with friends like all other children. We urge parents to seek help and ask their School Nurse, GP or health visitor about the treatments available to them."

Unfortunately, a lack of understanding is also prevalent among parents - over 80% of parents do not believe that bedwetting is a medical condition and wrongly believe that stress, worry and laziness are the major causes 3. Furthermore, a quarter of the children interviewed believed that their parents would be angry if a friend wet the bed in their house, and nearly half indicated that their parents may not want their friend to sleep over again.

The campaign's aims are supported by ChiIdLine, the UK's free, 24-hour help-line for children and young people. Alison Murphy, ChildLine's Director of Children's Services, said, "ChildLine receives a number of calls from children and young people who experience bedwetting. These young callers are often very depressed and feel deeply embarrassed about it. Many say that they are bullied because of it and that it greatly affects their school and social lives.

"It is important that awareness is raised about bedwetting among young people so that they understand the condition better and those who wet the bed are supported by their school friends rather than made fun of."

For further information, help and advice, visit www.MvNiqhtOwl.org, or contact ERIC W 0117 960 30 60. Children and young people can also call ChildLine's free, 24-hour help-line on 0800 1111.

1 Kember Associates interviewed 325 children (who do and do not experience bedwetting) aged 7-15, January 2003

2 Out of a class of thirty ten year olds, for example, it is estimated that two children wet the bed 3 BMRB International questioned 1,000 people 15-17 February 2002

3 BRMB International questioned 1,000 people 15-17 February 2002

UK FIRST FOR WEST YORKSHIRE - SMOKE-FREE HOMES/ SMOKE-FREE ZONES

Tuesday 28th January 2003 West Yorkshire is the UK test-bed for a new
campaign aimed at protecting children from the harmful effects of tobacco
smoke in their own homes. The 'Smoke-Free Homes' project, launched today
by Fiona Castle, wife of the late Roy Castle who died of lung cancer
attributed to passive smoking, will encourage families to stop smoking in
their own homes or limit the rooms they smoke in. The campaign will also
encourage children to be 'champions' for smoke-free homes. The aim is to
get at least 2,000 homes in West Yorkshire signed up to the initiative by
World No Tobacco Day on 31st May 2003. If the initiative is successful, the
Department of Health may be interested in funding similar projects across
the UK.

The campaign, a joint initiative between West Yorkshire Smoking & Health
(WYSH), Yorkshire Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), West Yorkshire Fire
Service and Sure Start, is funded by educational grants from the Department
of Health and pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare.

Fiona Castle explained: "If a parent smokes, a child may inhale the
equivalent of a staggering 60 to 150 cigarettes a year. The Smoke-Free
Homes initiative will help to get the word out to parents that children's
health can be seriously affected by passively breathing in tobacco smoke and
ensure they take active steps to do something about it. We've been
tackling smoking in workplaces and public places, but ignored the home,
which is the biggest source of passive smoking for children.

"Children are particularly vulnerable to tobacco smoke as their lungs are
not fully developed. This means a child's immune system is less resistant
to the infections caused by the harmful chemicals contained in tobacco
smoke," she continued.

Children with parents who smoke are more likely than children of non-smokers
to experience:
* acute respiratory illness
* chronic cough and wheezing
* asthma attacks
* chronic middle ear infections
* admission to hospital.

Andrew Furber, Public Health Doctor, Easter Wakefield Primary Care Trust and
chair of the Smoke-Free Home initiative said: "Tobacco smoke represents one
of the most serious threats to the health of children of all ages. Studies
from America have found that breathing in tobacco smoke causes more death
and disability in children than all other unintentional injuries - such as
road accidents, choking, and falls - combined. The home is the biggest
source of tobacco smoke for children in West Yorkshire. Concentrations of
toxic chemicals can reach dangerous levels in confined spaces such as
sitting rooms. Because of our weather, children tend to spend a lot of their
time indoors and their health can be seriously affected by adults smoking in
the house."

Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, which are found in poisonous
gases and dust-like particles too small for the human eye to see. The
chemicals can cause a wide range of health problems, including heart
disease, cancer and lung problems.

What is the Smoke-Free Homes initiative?
The Smoke-Free Homes initiative encourages families to make one of three
promises:
* Gold: to make their home smoke-free
* Silver: to smoke only in one well ventilated room
* Bronze: never to smoke when their children are in the room.

The campaign includes a brochure which will be distributed to hundreds of
public health and children's services across the county. People who return
the application will receive a pack containing a smoke-free door/window
sticker, smoke-free zone table cards to display in their rooms and
information about the impact of passive smoking on children. A website,
www.smokefreehomes.co.uk has been established for people to make their
promise online. Everyone who promises to make their home smoke-free will be
entered into a prize draw for £500 worth of DIY vouchers.

The campaign is based on a similar initiative in America, the Smoke-Free
Home Pledge, launched by President George Bush in 2001 and sponsored by the
Environmental Protection Agency. Thousands of homes across the US have
proclaimed their homes smoke-free as a result of the campaign. If the
initiative in West Yorkshire is successful, it may be taken on board by
other health promotion groups across the country.

For more information about the initiative in your area, contact Patricia
Hodgson, on 01484 344285 or your local health promotion or stop smoking
service:
Bradford
Di Woodall 01274 223943; Janet Walton 01274 223907
Leeds
Heather Thomson 0113 243 8090
Calderdale
Judy Stewart 01422 307355
Huddersfield/Dewsbury
Patricia Hodgson 01484 344285
Wakefield
Stewart Evans 01977 665730

Edexcel's newly developed qualifications for all new FE teachers

In response to the government's decision to make recognised teaching
standards mandatory for all new further education teachers, awarding body
Edexcel has launched newly developed qualifications specifically for the
sector, where over 130,000 teachers currently practise.

Designed for new staff in relevant teaching posts, the qualifications
require candidates to combine theory and practice and complete assignments
based on real teaching and learning experiences. All candidates deliver a
set number of teaching practice hours as part of the programme, which can be
delivered by distance or online learning.

"Our qualifications aim to develop a very high level of skills," said
Barbara Molog, Edexcel's Subject Leader. "They are intended to produce
fully rounded teachers who are both skilful in delivering their subject and
equipped to deal effectively with a range of wider issues such as cultural
diversity and inclusivity," she added.

The qualifications are endorsed by the Further Education National Training
Organisation (FENTO) and are available at three stages. Stage 1 is for
part-time teachers on fractional contracts, stage 2 is for new further
education teachers who often teach across the curriculum and stage 3 is for
permanent full-time further education teachers. All new further education
teachers must complete a relevant FENTO-approved qualification by 2006.

Based on FENTO's national standards, the Edexcel courses are accredited by
the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority at level 4 (equivalent to degree
level) on the National Qualifications Framework and attract funding from
Learning and Skills Councils.

Colleges and training providers can apply to offer the qualifications
immediately. Centres wishing to find out more should contact Edexcel on
0870 240 9800 or email enquiries@edexcel.org.uk

School calls for expansion of Traffic Calming Schemes

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has today called for an expansion of traffic calming schemes, after the largest review to date of the evidence on their effectiveness concluded that they ‘may have the potential to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries’.

Traffic calming is becoming a high profile media issue with opinions running high, both for and against. It will be one of the issues highlighted in the forthcoming launch of the manifesto of the Safer Streets Coalition. The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is the base for the Injuries Group of the International Cochrane Collaboration. The Group which carried out the review seeks to assemble all available information from research that has been conducted on particular methods of treating or preventing injury. The data is collected, analysed and presented in the form of systematic reviews.

‘Traffic calming interventions need to be properly evaluated using well-designed controlled studies, so that we can more accurately estimate their effectiveness’, comments Professor Ian Roberts, one of the review team. ‘Whenever reliable studies have been done, traffic calming has been shown to make roads safer. We do need more research but, in my view, we already know enough to justify an expansion in the number of traffic calming schemes. Contrary to what some people have claimed, there is no evidence that traffic calming increases the risks’.

The team expressed concern that so far no reliable research on the topic has been conducted in developing countries, where the death rate from injuries on the road is increasing most rapidly.

Young Offenders In 'Poacher Turned Gamekeeper' Initiative

Young offenders have been recruited to help develop a unique, new
government-funded £1.1m website called Rizer (www.rizer.co.uk - under
construction), in a 'poacher turned gamekeeper' initiative to tackle
criminal behaviour amongst young people.

Today's British Crime Survey data (9 Jan 03) shows that more than a third of
people cite anti-social behaviour problems and 'teenagers hanging around' as
a very or fairly big problem. Rizer's primary purpose is to act as a
deterrent to criminal behaviour and to explain and provide neutral guidance
on the criminal justice system as it relates to issues such as guns,
violence, drugs, theft and racism.

Launching in April 2003, the Rizer initiative is using a group of former
young offenders and other young people to create an edgy and urban visual
and language style. The group calls itself the 'WS Cru' and is involved at
every stage of the development process, including the name 'Rizer', with
individuals advising on their own experience of crime, the Police and the
criminal justice system.

A combination of text, audio, photos and video is being used to communicate
with both young people at risk of falling into crime, many of whom suffer
from low literacy skills, and the parents and concerned adults working with
them. It will include a 24-hour helpline and legal advice as well as links
to organisations providing essential help and assistance.

By capitalising on the particular appeal of the web to young people Rizer
aims to open up a direct and impartial communication channel. The site will
contain interactive case studies illustrating possible reasons for and
different types of criminal behaviour as well as the consequences of
becoming involved in crime and alternative behaviour patterns.

The National Centre for Citizenship and the Law (www.nccl.org.uk) part of
the award-winning Galleries of Justice museum
(www.galleriesofjustice.org.uk) is developing the site. The
Nottingham-based Galleries was chosen to deliver the project because of its
reputation for innovative work with young people on issues of crime and
social exclusion. Much of its work is based around the proven value of
early intervention to divert young people at risk from becoming involved in
crime.

A voluntary sector organisation, the Galleries is working with voluntary,
charity and statutory organisations to develop the site. Victim Support,
the Police, Youth Justice Board, Magistrates Court, teachers and the
Commission for Racial Equality are all making a significant input into the
development of the site through a project board and are closely involved in
its progress.

"Who better to ask about deterring young people from a life of crime than
former-offenders?" says Peter Armstrong, CEO at the Galleries. "Their
advice is crucial because our research shows that they often don't trust or
even understand information from established sources.

"If we can deter young people from falling into criminal behaviour in their
teens then there is a much better chance that they will never enter the
criminal justice system at all. That's good news for young people
themselves and for the public who have expressed their concerns about
teenagers in today's Crime Survey data."

Money for the £1.1m initiative is coming from the government's 'Invest to
Save' and Criminal Justice IT budgets and brings a new element to the
government's crime reduction strategy. Young people commit more than 40% of
all crime and more than 80% of those entering a young offenders institution
re-offend within two years.

"If Rizer deters just a small percentage of young people from becoming
involved in crime then the benefits to society will be substantial," says
Steve Brookes, Crime Reduction Director at the Government Office of the East
Midlands (GOEM).

The Galleries of Justice has chosen the Citizenship Foundation
(www.citfou.gov.uk) to provide the content for the site while new media
specialists Digit (www.digitlondon.com) will supply the branding and visual
identity.

The Politics of Childhood

The Universities of Hull and Bradford’s recently-established Joint Centre for the Social Study of Childhood has held its third international conference, ‘The Politics of Childhood’.

The Centre is located in the Department of Comparative and Applied Social Sciences at Hull and the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities at Bradford.

Hull welcomed over 100 delegates from all over the world to participate in what one American visitor described as “the high point of his recent academic adventures”.

A proposal has now been drawn up for an edited volume of the best papers given at the conference.

The conference opened with a plenary address by one of the Co-Directors of the Centre, Dr Allison James, who also set out the interdisciplinary themes addressed.

The Centre’s second Co-Director Professor Adrian James said: “The interdisciplinary nature of the conference was greatly in evidence in the wide spread of papers, including several given by Bradford staff, engaging in so many rich and different ways with the politics of childhood.”

Highlights of the conference included the Director of the Refugees Council, Nick Hardwick, who gave his audience an insight into the plight of refugee children in the UK, and Professor Irene Rizzini, from the International Centre for Research on Childhood in Rio de Janeiro, who gave a moving account of the biographical trajectories of Brazilian street children when faced with the state’s attempts to institutionalise and control them.

Meanwhile, Professor John O’Neil from Toronto amused the audience with his historical tale of the rise and demise of the American family as witnessed through movies. And three young people, representatives from young people’s organisations, described their own experiences of participation and the tokenism that sometimes occurs.

The closing panel offered delegates the chance to reflect on what they had learned from the conference.

One American delegate said: “I am now thinking deeply about the role of children and children’s issues in political movements ... and talking to people far and wide about the advanced state of academic and political thinking in the UK.”

For further information, please contact Rachael Ellis in Corporate Communications on (01274) 233084/0787 9437986 or Emma Scales on (01274) 233089. Alternatively, e-mail press@bradford.ac.uk or fax on (01274) 235460.

EASTER FUN FOR CHILDREN THAT'S EASY ON YOUR POCKET!

With Easter just around the corner, it is time once again for parents to think about activities for their children over the holidays. If it is fun filled, action packed sporting activities that your children are after - then King's Sports Camps offer the ideal solution. This is also good news for parents pockets because the camps offer superb value for money at under £3 an hour, dropping to under £2 an hour when extra hours are booked - far cheaper than most childcare costs.

King's Sports Camps operate 60 camps throughout the UK, using fully qualified teachers and sports students to deliver a fun, action-packed and varied programme of entertainment for children aged 4-17. Linda Gascoyne, spokesperson for The King's Trust is urging parents to book early if they want to avoid disappointment for their children. "Places at the camps are already filling up fast, with many of the same children returning year on year. Each year we try to offer something different and extend our range of activities, which encourages even greater interest from parents looking for things to do that will keep their children occupied. I would encourage parents looking for adventurous, enjoyable and challenging pursuits, guaranteed to get their children away from the tv screen, to get in touch."

Parents struggling with childcare for their children during the holidays will also find that King's can provide the perfect solution to their needs. The camps all accept childcare vouchers and many parents will be eligible for tax benefits through the Working Families Tax Credit. Plus many of the camps operate Xtra Time - offering Xtra fun, Xtra Value and Xtra care from 8.30am - 5.30pm, to provide even greater support for working parents.

Linda Gascoyne continues "The camps offer guaranteed sporting excitement and fun for children across all age ranges and first class childcare facilities. Children are offered a varied range of up to 20 activities and from the moment they enter the camp until they leave, they are provided with structured coaching designed to thrill and grab the attention of even the most anti-sports child! Once a child has discovered the adventure and delights that sports can bring I am confident that they will want to return again and again. We make it fun with plenty of choice for them to try sports such as lacrosse, that they may not have tried before. All camps also offer 'Activity Xtras' such as water sports, dance, drama, athletics and climbing and our Xtra Time involves art and craft activities and chill out sessions. It is also an excellent opportunity for similar aged children to mix and make new friends, and parents can be reassured that they are being kept out of trouble in a safe environment."

The organisation prides itself on offering excellent value for money and as a charitable trust, parents can be assured that their contributions go towards worthwhile projects such as supporting children in communities with HIV/AIDS in South Africa.

For further information call 0845 141 0800, Email:info@kingssportscamps or visit website www.kingssportscamps.com

NEW BOOK TO CELEBRATE THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL AUTISTIC SOCIETY

The National Autistic Society has published a new and moving book containing
a collection of the best entries from the art competition as part of the
celebrations of the 40th Anniversary of The National Autistic Society in
2002.

The book Autism. The problem is understanding includes poems, pictures,
stories, photographs, drawings and paintings by people with autistic
spectrum disorders, parents and carers, families and friends and
professionals working with people with autistic spectrum disorders from all
over the United Kingdom.

Jane Asher, President of the NAS said:
"It's not often a book manages to be entertaining, informative and moving
all at the same time, but that's exactly what is achieved...A few minutes
reading some of these extraordinary and revealing anecdotes and poems will
explain more about this complex disorder than hours of textbooks."

The book is available from National Autistic Society Publications. Call
Barnados Despatch Services on: 01268 522872 to order a copy. ISBN 1 899280
38 3

ADHD -A natural way to solve hyperactivity and learning deficiencies in Children

Publication of press releases does not infer that Children Webmag endorses any product

Manchester United Kingdom 15 November 2002

The increase in anti-social behaviour, learning and concentration difficulties in children is now a serious subject for many parents.

As if bringing children up wasn't difficult enough, recent years have seen a sharp increase in child behavioural problems in the United Kingdom.

In a new study, the NICE institute says that about 73,000 school-age children in England and Wales meet the diagnostic guidelines for ADHD.

Recent research has confirmed what many researchers have thought; that there is a serious link between diet and these issues.

Research conducted in US and European studies have shown that children with learning and concentration problems and antisocial behaviour are often deficient in three fatty acids:
.. EPA,
.. DHA and
.. GLA

Our brains contain 60 % fat, out of which a major part belongs to the so-called essential polyunsaturated fatty acids, EPA, DHA and arachidonic acid (AA), an end metabolite of GLA. They are essential for proper cognitive skills, such as learning, concentration and memory, as well for vision, hearing and normal behaviour. People with learning and concentration problems and asocial behaviour are often deficient in these fatty acids. A daily supplement of these three fatty acids, EPA, DHA and GLA, may correct the failure and improve the cognitive skills and behaviour.

One of the first products to apply these newly discovered associations is ABC-EPA Neurobalance a new "brain nutrition" product developed by Dr Matti Tolonen http://www.1stvitality.co.uk/matti_tolonen/index.html for normalising the functions of the human brain. Based on solid science, ABC-EPA Neurobalance corresponds closely to the latest scientific research in this rapidly proceeding area.

Modern Apprenticeships

Modern Apprenticeships are a key tool currently being re-launched by the LSC to combat skills shortages and improve staff retention. MAs give young people aged 16-24 a helping hand up the career ladder. They offer a paid job, with training. At the end of this is a recognised qualification - NVQ Level 2 or 3.

MAs are invaluable to apprentice and employer alike. Employers benefit by gaining access to the necessary financial assistance to increase their portfolio of skills and young people have the opportunity to gain real experience and on-the-job training.

Employers benefit in a number of ways from Modern Apprenticeship programmes: they are designed by employers to meet industry training needs, help reduce staff turnover and increase employee motivation and standards of quality.

MAs help businesses succeed in an increasingly competitive environment. By offering apprenticeships, employers in the caring industry can help raise standards and productivity, ensuring the future provision of a highly skilled workforce.

Modern Apprenticeships are already increasing the number of qualified people in the caring industry. Currently, approximately 9% of Advanced MAs and 10% of Foundation MAs are in the caring sector which is a fairly significant proportion. MAs are a considerable advantage in an industry where qualifications are virtually compulsory and enable organisations focusing on early years care and education to meet the necessary quotas of qualified staff.

These figures should get even higher - the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review has confirmed new targets for the LSC in terms of the number of people who should be embarking on these apprenticeships. The LSC is aiming to place an additional 15,000 apprentices across all sectors of industry each year by 2004. This will increase the number of people on MAs from 23 per cent to 28 per cent of the overall 16-24 population.

MAs also support the government's recent attention to vocational learning. The schemes recognise the importance of learning a specific trade and emphasize the fact that the majority of jobs DO have structured career paths. Working in the caring industry is a career, not a part-timers choice.

Primary Baccalaureate - Measuring what we value in Primary Schools

A Primary Baccalaureate could be the key to developing children's education beyond literacy and numeracy targets according to a new project launched by the Institute for Public Policy Reseach (ippr) today (Monday). The ippr and the RSA aim to pilot the use of the new baccalaureate in the new year.

The Primary Baccalaureate would take the form of a qualification that children could work on throughout their primary years, but dedicate much of Years Five and Six towards. Its main purpose would be to allow every pupil, armed with good literacy and numeracy skills, to discover and pursue their one or two learning passions in much greater detail.

Joe Hallgarten Associate Director of ippr and lead researcher on the project said:

"Creative thinking around the future of the primary curriculum and associated assessments is urgently needed. The key challenge for primary schools is to ensure that the literacy and numeracy strategies, which have brought benefits to many children's learning, act as foundations for deeper learning, rather than barriers to such learning.

"A well-designed Primary Baccalaureate, making full use of new technologies, other 'expert adults' and places of learning outside the school could enable schools to meet the challenge of enriching learning and motivating learners. A Primary Baccalaureate could provide primary schools with a chance to change the curriculum for themselves. Otherwise within the decade , yet again, somebody will do it for them."

T James Sprott OBE 10 Combes Road
MSc PhD FNZIC Remuera
Consulting Chemist Auckland 5
Forensic Scientist New Zealand

Phone & fax: 64-9-5231150
sprott@iconz.co.nz

NEW RESEARCH IN BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL CONFIRMS AGAIN:
INFANT MATTRESSES CAUSE COT DEATH

Cot death expert Dr Jim Sprott has welcomed new research which confirms that
infant mattresses cause cot death. A four-and-a-half year study by the
Scottish Cot Death Trust(1) published in the British Medical Journal (2nd
November 2002) has shown that the re-use of infant mattresses TRIPLES the
risk of cot death.

“This research finding cannot be ignored,” said Dr Sprott. “It is crucial
to cot death prevention.”

>From late 1994 Dr Sprott has publicised mattress-wrapping for cot death
prevention nationwide in New Zealand, and since that time a very large
number of babies have slept on wrapped mattresses. There has been no
reported cot death among those babies; the New Zealand cot death rate has
fallen by 48%(2), and the European/Pakeha rate by about 75%.

Earlier this year a German doctor published the results of the New Zealand
mattress-wrapping campaign(3) in an overseas journal, including statistical
analysis carried out in conjunction with the University of Munich. The
statistics showed that the proof of the validity of mattress-wrapping for
cot death prevention was one billion billion times(4) the level of proof
generally accepted by the medical community as proving a scientific
proposition.

“The 100% success of mattress-wrapping has been proved in New Zealand over a
period of nearly eight years,” said Dr Sprott. “Now Scottish researchers
have confirmed that mattresses cause cot death, and a German doctor has
demonstrated that the proof of mattress-wrapping is vastly greater than the
accepted medical standard of proof.”

“The Ministry of Health, Cot Death Association and Plunket have been
dithering around over mattress-wrapping for nearly eight years,” said Dr
Sprott. “During that time around 550 New Zealand babies have died
needlessly of cot death. The Ministry, Cot Death Association and Plunket
have been informed time and again about the efficacy of mattress-wrapping in
preventing cot death - yet they have refused to act on this life-saving
information. I hold them responsible for those 550 deaths.”

* * * * * *

(1) Tappin et al, Used infant mattresses and sudden infant death syndrome
in Scotland: case-control study, British Medical Journal 2002;325:1007

(2) >From 2.1 deaths per 1000 live births in 1994 to 1.1/1000 in 2000
(provisional)

(3) Kapuste, H, Giftige Gase im Kinderbett (“Toxic Gases in Infants’
Beds”), Zeitschrift fuer Umweltmedizin No. 44; January-April 2002:18-20

(4) p < 1.9 x 10(exp minus 22) (The generally accepted figure for
medical proof is p < 1.0 x 10(exp minus 3))