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February 21, 2023

Study finds 3 in 10 girls under 18 have eating disorder

  • A large-scale research project covering more than 63,000 participants across the globe, including the UK, investigated the prevalence of eating disorders.
  • It found that three in 10 girls under the age of 18 suffer from an eating disorder.
  • It also found that one in six boys face an eating disorder and 22% of children suffer from conditions such as anorexia, bulimia and other extreme dieting behaviour.
  • The author of the study stated that identifying the scope of eating disorders is vital for planning and carrying out actions that prevent, detect and deal with them.
  • For more on this story, please visit the Yahoo News website.

Overcrowding in specialist schools: ‘We’re teaching in cupboards’

  • BBC research has highlighted that half of state-funded schools in England for children with special educational needs and disabilities are oversubscribed.
  • Due to a lack of space, schools have been converting portable cabins and cupboards into teaching spaces.
  • Some parents have reported their children are missing out on their education while they wait for places.
  • Headteachers reported that the issue is making pupils anxious and is putting pressure on teachers.
  • The number of children with special educational needs has risen 50% since 2016.
  • The Department of Education has provided £2.6 billion in capital funding up to 2025 to deliverer new places at SEND schools in response to findings.
  • For more on this story, please visit the BBC News website.

Texting parents may help schools tackle ‘truancy crisis’ in England, says experts

  • Truancy in English schools has become a national concern with more children now missing lessons compared with pre-pandemic levels.
  • Research has highlighted that a third of 15-year-olds are persistently absent from the classroom and of particular concern, those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
  • The reasons for absence remain varied and complex with some parents believing that school is no longer a necessity for their children.
  • Personalised text messages to parents are hoped to help improve school attendance rates and build deeper relationships between schools and parents.
  • For more on this story, please visit the Guardian’s website.