Network Whispers - Assessment, business rates and kebabs

SHISH! Children’s minister Nadhim Zahawi and shadow early years minister Tracy Brabin are unlikely allies at a popular Westminster event – but it is ‘babs, not babies, taking centre stage. The duo are both judges at the British Kebab Awards, or keBAFTAs as they are also known, which organisers say are ‘a reflection of the kebab industry’s significant contribution to the UK economy and British culture in general’. Incredibly, 110 politicians attended the most recent event in March, including Labour leader and vegetarian Jeremy Corbyn.

SAT STATE OF AFFAIRS MP Paul Williams was surprised at the response of his six-year-old daughter when he asked her what she wanted to do this year. ‘She had heard of a place called Disney,’ he told an audience of child development professionals last week, ‘but she also said, “I hope to do well in my SATs”. I thought, how the f**k does she know about SATs? I hadn’t told her and the school tries to shield them. At six, all I want is for her to be happy. If we are going to do assessments on children it needs to be so low key that nobody notices.’

HAPPY VALLEY Calderdale Council in West Yorkshire is one of the first to give childcare providers a business rates discount. The council is automatically giving all nurseries with a rateable value of less than £51,000 a third off their bill. If any nurseries have not received the relief and believe they are entitled to it, they should contact business.rates@calderdale.gov.uk

FOOT IN MOUTH Burnley nursery had a headache when a doctor said a child with the hand, foot and mouth virus should be sent home. This was despite the child not feeling unwell and contrary to NHS advice, which says that children can go back to nursery if they no longer feel unwell and don’t have a temperature, with no need to wait until any blisters have fully cleared. The parents opted to ignore the doctor’s advice.