Sunak ‘facing pre-election disaster’ if childcare expansion plan fails in autumn Persistent fears over staffing and funding could lead to promises being broken to parents weeks before likely poll date The Guardian - UK · Jan 27, 2024
Labour pushes bill to tackle persistent school absenteeism Opposition day motion seeks to create a council-maintained register of children in England not on the school roll The Guardian - UK · Jan 22, 2024
From Glasto tickets to designer handbags: All the freebees MPs got last year Looking to get Lana Del Rey tickets? It's easy, just become an MP Evening Standard · Jan 18, 2024
Rishi Sunak launches crackdown on ALL parents to cut the number of kids holidaying during term time, but families believe the issue ‘isn’t the parents’ Families have responded to the Prime Minister's crackdown on parents booking term-time holidays GoodToKnow · Jan 10, 2024
Pupils to get unique ID number linking service records under Labour ID number would connect children in England’s school, health and council information The Guardian - UK · Jan 9, 2024
Birthday treats and cheaper holidays are no reason to miss school, says Labour Parents have a responsibility to make sure their children are at school, shadow education secretary says as truancy crisis deepens Evening Standard · Jan 9, 2024
Labour plans to tackle school absence in England with home-school register Legislation would put legal duty on councils to keep register of children not in school amid historically high absence levels The Guardian - UK · Jan 9, 2024
Labour vows to tackle school absences and ‘broken relationship’ with families Bridget Phillipson to set out ‘generational challenges’ also including child mental health crisis The Guardian - UK · Jan 7, 2024
As manifesto deadline day looms, five questions Keir Starmer must answer Labour must decide its policies on key issues including taxes, green spending and the NHS before party’s election campaign begins The Guardian - UK · Jan 5, 2024
Government to fund school ‘attendance mentors’ in worst-hit areas of England Latest attempt to tackle pupil absences criticised as failing to tackle the magnitude of the problem The Guardian - UK · Jan 5, 2024
Government admits criticised new childcare policy is ‘no easy task’ to implement Exclusive: As the government rolls out registration for new childcare hours, Labour warns Tories’ pledges are ‘meaningless’ to parents unable to find childcare The Independent UK · Jan 2, 2024
The Ruth Perry tragedy must mark the end of Ofsted’s reign of fear The bullying of schools stifles recruitment and condemns children to pressure-cooker learning, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee The Guardian - UK · Dec 12, 2023
Tory free childcare plan flawed as lack of places, says Labour but questions remain on its offer to parents Parents will be left 'bitterly disappointed' by the Government's childcare plans, says shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson Evening Standard · Nov 29, 2023
Parents told to register for new government childcare support. Here’s how to apply From April next year, eligible working parents of two-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours of free childcare The Independent UK · Nov 29, 2023
The Independent UK · Nov 29, 2023 First wave of childcare expansion rollout to open for applications in January From April next year, eligible working parents of two-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours of free childcare.
The Guardian - UK · Nov 23, 2023 School leaders in England feel lockdown ‘broke spell’ of bond with parents Education experts agree with Ofsted chief that many parents now disregard rules previously taken for granted
The Independent UK · Nov 20, 2023 Labour’s private school tax plans may damage equality progress – education chief It could be more difficult for families to access single-sex education if private schools are forced to close, it has been suggested.
The Independent UK · Nov 8, 2023 Keir Starmer warned frontbencher who quit over Gaza stance ‘won’t be the last’ Imran Hussain quits to ‘advocate’ for ceasefire, as fellow left-winger tries to force Commons vote
The Guardian - UK · Nov 8, 2023 Imran Hussain: Labour frontbencher resigns in support of Gaza ceasefire Shadow minister says his position on Gaza is at odds with Keir Starmer’s call for humanitarian pauses
The Independent UK · Nov 8, 2023 Starmer under pressure after frontbencher resigns over stance on Gaza Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said Imran Hussain had ‘reached his own decision’.
The Independent UK · Nov 6, 2023 Childcare sector in crisis as more than half of workers considering leaving jobs Fears staff exodus could add to concerns the government’s new free childcare policy will be impossible to deliver
The Guardian - UK · Nov 1, 2023 ‘We are laying the path for these children’: why early years education should never be undervalued The prominence Liverpool Hope University places on its early years education training and research reflects its commitment to help children and society
The Guardian - UK · Oct 17, 2023 While the world holds its breath, the UK continues to fall apart Rishi Sunak is going through the motions, while Humza Yousaf speaks from the heart but to little avail
The Independent UK · Oct 17, 2023 Minister faces calls to resign amid school funding error Nick Gibb faced calls in the Commons to step down after an error in the calculation of the National Funding Formula.
The Guardian - UK · Oct 14, 2023 Labour calls for inquiry into English schools £370m budget bungle Opposition calls for independent investigation by watchdog to prevent repeat of funding errors