What Labour’s Win Means for Families
Written by Carla Lett
5th July 2024
No one is talking about what labour means for our children; we have summarised what to expect from your children’s education moving forward.
- Labour’s recent victory signals major changes in education, with Bridget Phillipson focusing on removing barriers for children.
- Key promises include hiring 6,500 teachers, replacing Ofsted grades with a scorecard system, and establishing 3,000 new primary school-based nurseries.
- Curious about how these changes will impact your child’s schooling? Read on to explore Labour’s detailed plans.
6,500 New Teachers
Quality education requires good teachers. Labour has committed to recruiting 6,500 new teachers to bolster school staff. Sir Keir has stressed the importance of focusing on essential subjects that will “prepare children for life, work, and the future.” This initiative comes with a £450 million price tag, funded by the proposed addition of VAT to private school fees.
No More Ofsted
Ofsted is often feared by teachers, but it’s essential for assessing school quality. Labour plans to replace the current one-word verdicts with a detailed scorecard system.
Safeguarding Children
With the changes to Ofsted, a new annual check-in will be introduced to safeguard pupils. This will address issues from attendance to off-rolling, aiming to prevent children from slipping through the cracks.
SEND Provision
Labour promises enhanced support for SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) pupils. Schools will need to consider the needs of the entire community in their admission decisions and collaborate with local authorities for the inclusion of SEND pupils. Additionally, every school will have a specialist mental health professional.
Curriculum Review
While core subjects will remain, Labour plans an expert-led review to ensure the curriculum is “rich, broad, inclusive, and innovative.” This review may alter the nature of tests and exams, focusing on balancing assessment methods and maintaining the importance of examinations. There will also be a renewed emphasis on speaking, listening, and digital skills.
Free Breakfast Clubs
A good start to the day is crucial. Labour intends to create 3,000 new primary school-based nurseries by upgrading existing spaces. They also plan to fund free breakfast clubs in every primary school, open to all children. Additionally, changes in childcare will boost early language skills and identify children needing support sooner.
Cheaper School Uniforms
Parents often face the financial strain of frequently replacing school uniforms. Labour aims to reduce costs by limiting the number of branded uniform and PE kit items schools can require.
More Teacher Training
Alongside recruiting new teachers, Labour plans to enhance training for all educational staff, from headteachers down. New teachers will receive training entitlements to help them become fully qualified as quickly as possible.
Labour’s victory promises a transformative approach to education, aiming to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all children. Stay tuned for further updates on how these changes will unfold in schools across the UK.
Carla is the founder of MyBump2Baby. Carla has a huge passion for linking together small businesses and growing families. Carla’s humorous, non-filtered honesty has won the hearts of thousands of parents throughout the UK.
She has previously written for the Metro and made appearances on BBC News, BBC 5 live, LBC etc. Carla is a finalist for Blogger of the Year award with Simply Ladies inc. Carla is also the host of the popular Fifty Shades of Motherhood podcast and The MyBump2Baby Expert podcast.
