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Tony Blair dials Nanny 911:

A network of around 80 “super nannies” is being set up by the government to show parents how to control their unruly children.

It’s the latest initiative in the government’s battle against crime and anti-social behaviour.

It’s being announced by the Prime Minister today as part of a government initiative throw the spotlight on the crime and justice system in England and Wales.

Around 80 trained child psychologists will try to improve parenting in areas with high levels of anti-social behaviour.

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Update: Reader Bill points out that it’s even worse at second glance…

Parents could be forced to go to special classes to learn to sing their children nursery rhymes, a minister said.

Those who fail to read stories or sing to their youngsters threaten their children’s future and the state must put them right, Children’s Minister Beverley Hughes said.

Their children’s well-being is at risk ‘unless we act’, she declared.

And Mrs Hughes said the state would train a new ‘parenting workforce’ to ensure parents who fail to do their duty with nursery rhymes are found and ‘supported’.

The call for state intervention in the minute details of family life followed a series of Labour efforts to reduce anti-social behaviour and improve educational standards by imposing rigorous controls on the lives of the youngest children.

Mrs Hughes has established a national curriculum to set down how babies are taught to speak in childcare from the age of three months.

Her efforts have gone alongside a push by other ministers to determine exactly how parents treat their children down to how they should brush their teeth…

…New powers for councils to impose parenting orders are expected to be announced in the Queen’s Speech tomorrow.

Part of Mr Blair’s ‘Respect Agenda’, they extend current powers for courts to instruct parents of children who commit crimes to attend parenting classes.

Mrs Hughes’ parenting workforce will include local council social workers who are likely to have the new powers…