In brief...

Radio should be declared an 'Education Action Zone' to help young children develop language skills, says children's radio campaigner Susan Stranks. She has called for the Government to commission an independent evaluation of radio as a communication tool to inform a Qualifications and Curriculum Authority study to explore ways to improve spoken English, which was launched last week. Ms Stranks said, 'Kids must learn to listen, concentrate and respond before they begin to read and write, so radio has a key role to play.'