The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has made a direct appeal to workers in the public sector to ask for suggestions for making services better and cheaper. In a short video on the Spending Challenge website http://spendingchallenge.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ he invites them to submit their ideas online for helping to cut budgets by 25 per cent. A letter signed by the Prime Minister and his deputy has also been sent to everyone working in the public sector.

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A new report from Ofsted on food in schools shows that most pupils have a good understanding of what makes up a healthy diet. It also finds that in the majority of schools visited, food is attractive, nutritious and well prepared. Many schools have succeeded in increasing the take-up of free school meals by giving better advice and support to parents.

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The involvement of parents in the education of children is vital, but as they move on to secondary school communication channels are fewer and the independence which comes with growing up weakens the links. This article describes how technology can strengthen the links so that parents are in touch with schools and are kept up to date about what is happening with their children.

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