Last week, I took each of my daughters to their new school for the first time. It was a moment of pride mixed with emotion. Walking them to the gates, their uniforms slightly too big, their bags bouncing against their backs, I found myself holding on to their hands for just a few seconds longer. Like so many parents, I felt a mixture of hope, worry, and love: the desire to give your children the best start in life, the knowledge they will face challenges, and the wish that they will find friendship, confidence, and joy in the years ahead.
Behind that moment, though, were the very real stresses every parent carries. The concern over whether schools have the resources they need, whether teachers feel supported, and whether every child will get the attention they deserve. I heard other parents express the same worries. It reminded me how important the Labour’s drive to put education back at the heart of national priorities is.
Since taking office, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has acted fast and effectively. She has begun to recruit thousands of new teachers, so children receive the focus and encouragement they need. She has launched a National Excellence Programme to spread best practice in teaching and restore the status of the profession, ensuring teachers are given the respect they deserve.
Though there’s plenty more to do, support for children with special educational needs and disabilities has been strengthened through new funding. The aim is to ensure no family is left battling for the help their child requires.
The first phase of our plan to deliver free breakfast clubs in every primary school is already underway. And, Labour’s expansion of free school meals ensures no child begins the school day on an empty stomach, helping to improve focus and wellbeing across the classroom.
Equally important, the Government has tackled one of the hidden costs that weighs heavily on families each September: the price of school uniforms. New rules mean schools must keep branded items to a minimum and give parents genuine choice over where to buy. This has already helped ease the strain on household budgets, ensuring no child is held back or made to feel different simply because of the cost of a blazer or jumper.
Labour’s introduction of 30 hours of free childcare for working parents ensures families get the support they need, enabling parents to pursue their careers while knowing their children are in safe, nurturing environments.
For me, last week was a reminder that education is never just about results on a page. It is about confidence, friendships, creativity, and wellbeing. It is about fairness, opportunity, and giving every child the chance to flourish.
As a parent, I felt the truth of that as I watched my daughters walk through the school doors. As your MP, I remain committed to ensuring the Government’s commitments, from smaller class sizes to affordable uniforms, are delivered in full for every family here in Aldershot and Farnborough.
