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Fewer early years pupils have reached expected development standards because of the pandemic’s disruption to their education, a new report has found. The study of reception year children aged four to five was focused on a cohort who were all aged three or four during the first lockdown from March 2020, while in the second and third lockdowns they were in their reception year. It found that parents and schools […]

Jamal Edwards has been announced as the first person to receive posthumously the Music Industry Trusts (MITS) Award in recognition of his contribution to the sector. The entrepreneur found fame after setting up the music platform SBTV in 2006, and was credited with helping to launch a string of UK music acts to stardom, including Ed Sheeran, Dave and Jessie J. He died on February 20 from a heart attack […]

Britain’s jobless rate has fallen to its lowest level for over 47 years but workers have seen their pay fall further behind rocketing inflation, according to official figures. The rate of unemployment dropped to 3.7% in the three months to March – the lowest since October to December 1974, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. For the first time, there were fewer unemployed people than job vacancies, although the […]

The Duke of Sussex said he hopes his children “never have to experience the online world as it exists now” as he criticised social media companies that make “unimaginable money” from people’s time, attention and information. Harry spoke at the launch of the 5Rights Foundation’s Global Child Online Safety Toolkit over video link from his home in California on Monday. The duke hailed 5Rights’ “ground-breaking work” in calling for a […]

People struggling during the cost-of-living crisis should consider taking on more hours at work or moving to a better-paid job, a Government minister has said. Rachel Maclean, safeguarding minister in the Home Office, admitted the idea would not work for all households, but said the solution for some people could be to look for additional work. The comments come against a backdrop of soaring inflation, rising energy bills and high […]

Harry Styles will be swapping the stage for a storybook as he became the latest star to sign up to read a CBeebies Bedtime Story. The One Direction and now solo singer, 28, will read Jess Hitchman’s In Every House, On Every Street, which is illustrated by Lili la Baleine. The story is described as a “heart-warming celebration of homes and the different families that live in them”. Styles’ story […]

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has warned flight prices will be higher this summer due to soaring demand for European holidays and said getting through airports would be “challenging” for passengers. Holidaymakers should brace for prices to rise by a “high single-digit per cent” over the peak season as demand for breaks on European beach resorts rebounds thanks to the lifting of pandemic travel restrictions, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today […]

A statue of Baroness Margaret Thatcher has been lowered into place in her home town despite past threats of “egg throwing”. In February 2019, a planning committee unanimously voted in favour of the £300,000 statue – which was originally intended for Parliament Square in Westminster. Despite its unveiling being delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the statue was erected on a 10ft-high granite plinth in Baroness Thatcher’s home town of […]

Ukraine has won the Eurovision Song Contest with folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra. The act have been the frontrunners since Russia’s invasion – which prompted organisers to ban the country from competing. The country joined the contest in 2003 and its three wins make it one of the most successful of the newer competitor countries – having triumphed in 2004 and 2016. Receiving the coveted trophy, Kalush Orchestra said: “Thank you […]