A national inquiry into the scale of bullying should be undertaken by ministers because of fears that the problem is being downplayed by schools seeking to protect their reputations, a report demands today. New guidance is also needed to ensure that victims who dare to fight back are not suspended or expelled.a

So-called “career criminals” could be banned from mixing with former associates when they are released from prison under Government plans. Failure to abide by the terms of strict licences might mean returning to jail for up to three years.

The probation service failed to manage a dangerous psychopath and child killer who was released after 38 years in prison without a proper assessment of his risk to the public, an official inquiry has found.

The Press Complaints Commission has vindicated the Daily Mirror for revealing that Ruth Kelly, the communities secretary, sent her child to a private school. Ruling for the Mirror, the PCC said Ms Kelly, a previous education minister, had “understandable concerns” for the welfare of her son, who has special needs, but that the Mirror article highlighted a subject of “considerable public interest”.

Children as young as six are being diagnosed with eating disorders. The shock findings come from the first national study into eating disorders in those under the age of 13. The condition is more severe in young children as anorexia can permanently stunt growth, affect future fertility and damage bones.

Children who spend a lot of time in nursery are more likely to be aggressive and disobedient throughout primary school – no matter how excellent the nursery, according to study published today.

A high court judge has revealed how the innocent parents of a baby boy suffered the “nightmare” of a court finding that they had deliberately harmed him, in a cautionary tale about the devastating consequences that can follow when courts and expert witnesses get it wrong.

Thousands of young women are facing infertility because of Labour’s broken promises on sexual health, alarming new figures suggest. Ministers have failed to implement a pledge made in 2004 to introduce a nationwide screening programme for chlamydia – now the most common sexually transmitted disease – by this month, the Daily Mail has learned.

Thousands of prisoners are being given keys to their cells in the latest farce to hit the criminal justice system. They can roam in and out virtually at will under a scheme designed to give them more “respect and decency”.

Ministers are failing to tackle the problem of playground bullying, according to MPs. In a damning report to be published tomorrow by the Education Select Committee, the Government will be accused of throwing money into a “black hole” because it doesn’t understand the problem.