The Shadow Minister for Schools Wes Streeting MP joined us for the day visiting two nurseries, a primary school and a school uniform swap shop then joining us in the afternoon for some door knocking with candidates.  It was the Shadow Ministers first opportunity to meet with education leaders in person since taking on his new role and due to covid restrictions.

The visit began with Staghills Nursery School, Rossendale.  An amazing place with an exciting Forest School experience, providing outstanding education, but it has been clobbered by cuts from central government.  The brilliant Head is effectively doing two jobs to balance the budgets.

A similar story to our next visit at Lee Royd Nursery in Accrington, where we were also joined by Lancashire Labour Group Leader, Azhar Ali and Accrington South County Councillor, Bernard Dawson.  Another outstanding rated nursery school suffering from lack of funding and insecure about the future of the nursery with the funding of grant maintained nurseries currently under consultation by Conservative led Lancashire County Council.  The inspiring Head doubles up as SENCO and we were shocked to learn that the nursery had only received £1,000 in government support for covid measures.

Moving onto Baxenden St John’s Primary a Church of England school where we got a clear message from the Head about the importance of working with the profession and trusting school leaders.

Kimberley Whitehead who accompanied Wes Streeting MP on the visit said:

“It’s a fantastic Church of England school and at the very heart of our community.  Schools aren’t just asking for funding they want to be listened to, involved in decision making and given advance notice of decisions impacting them.  The pressure on Teachers and school staff throughout the pandemic has been immense with some left feeling exhausted, anxious and demoralised.  I hope the Shadow Minister takes back the concerns and I would like to thank Wes for taking the time to visit Baxenden.”

Finishing the day visiting and speaking with residents in Great Harwood.

Wes Streeting MP “I’m genuinely inspired by the education leaders I met.  Children deserve better than this government.”