MP highlights some key eletion battlegrounds
In this week's column, Michael Foster looks at some key areas.
Securing a future fair for families
In the months ahead, Hastings & Rye will make a big choice about the kind of change we want for Britain. It's a choice between creating a future that is fair for all, or a change that puts the recovery at risk, threatens public services and makes life tougher for families.
Strong families are the heart of strong communities. My priority is to support families – in work, in their pockets and in giving their children the best start. From Tax Credits to the right to request flexible working hours, under Labour parents have more help to juggle home and work life. And in education, we've made huge improvements. But we need to go even further to support teachers, pupils and parents to improve our schools and give every young person the chance to get on in life by getting good qualifications, whether their strengths are practical, academic or both.
Protecting our schools
That's why Labour will give every child the guarantee of a good education. From catch up tuition for children falling behind to the right to a sixth-form, college or apprenticeship place for school leavers.
Labour's Children, Schools and Families Bill, which I supported in Parliament, builds on the transformation of state schools over the last 12 years with new guarantees to pupils and parents. We will bring in one-to-one tuition for children falling behind in the 3Rs. There will be more information for parents on how local schools are doing through new School Report Cards; and tough Home School Agreements to enforce good discipline.
This Bill is vital to meet Labour's aim - to help every child and young person make the most of their talents and make sure no barrier is allowed to hold them back. Good schools are also vital for our economy. Britain can only do well in the 21st century global economy if our young people get the skills and qualifications they need to save for a pension, pay their mortgage and get a good job.
The choice
But there is a choice. Labour will protect frontline services with real terms increases in funding for schools over the next three years. The Tories have instead prioritised an inheritance tax cut which will benefit the 3,000 wealthiest estates and are committed to immediate cuts to school funding if they win the election. This will mean fewer teachers and classroom assistants and bigger class sizes, which will make it harder to keep discipline and order in the classroom.
Labour will intervene early with a new '3Rs guarantee' of catch-up support, including one-to-one tuition, for children falling behind in English and maths. The Tories refuse to match our guarantees to pupils & parents and would make 11 year olds who don't make the grade repeat their final year of primary school while their classmates move on – stigmatising children and leading to bigger class sizes.
This year's election will be a big choice about the kind of change we want for Britain. The Conservatives are committed to immediate cuts to school funding if they win the election. A change you can't afford. I believe in change to build a future fairer for all the people in Hastings & Rye. And I hope that's the change you believe in too.
To keep up to date on what I'm doing stop by my website www.michaelfoster.org.uk.
You can also receive a monthly update on my activities by sending an email to mp@1066.net with 'MPFree' in the subject line.
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Weather for Hastings
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: West
