Peter Shreeve Assistant District Secretary, National Education Union highlights some of last week’s education news, which repeatedly showed gaps in education services. Ed
Teacher Training
Latest DfE teacher training figures show:
- targets missed in three quarters of secondary subjects.
- the lowest number of primary trainees on recent record.
- a failure to hit its own trainee target in 10 of the last 12 years.
How can the Labour manifesto succeed in recruiting 6,500 new teachers, if we cannot meet current targets?
Government milestone – 75 per cent of children ‘school-ready’ by 2028
We want all young children to have good early childhoods. But according to latest DWP figures 36 per cent of children in families with the youngest child aged under five live in poverty. (NSPCC)
Poverty puts children at a disadvantage before they start school, harming their development, increasing chances of poor physical and mental health.
Thus, successful transition to early years learning is vital. We succeed by identifying any risks early on and promoting healthy development. Where is the detail on improving access to high quality early childhood services, such as increasing health visitor numbers?
Why do children from better off families receive at least double the government-funded early years education than those from poorer families?
Ofsted’s Annual report
Ofsted highlights the positive outcomes for the vast majority of children, and the high standard of education they receive – a credit to all hard-working and caring staff.
But it highlights the acute lack of SEND support and increasing absenteeism too.
Summary
The Sutton Trust offers a more focused real life changing ‘almighty challenge’ milestone to that of the Prime Minster,
“Child poverty is a major driver of learning outcomes and it is disappointing to see no target, as yet, to eradicate it.”
