As we approach the middle of August, the thoughts of myself and other fathers across town will turn to getting our children ready to go back to school.
We all want our children to fulfil their potential. However, I am concerned to read that some of our young people are at a disadvantage before their first day in the classroom.
New research commissioned by Save the Children has found that boys are almost twice as likely as girls to fall behind before they reach school. This pre-school gap accounts for two thirds of the gender gap that exists at age 11.
The campaign specifically refers to levels of speech and language skills, at age five.
Last month I wrote to the new Secretary of State for Education, Rt Hon Justine Greening MP, in support of this campaign.
In particular, I am troubled to read that last year, around 200 boys in Crawley were found to have fallen behind the levels expected at this age.
We need to do more to ensure that every child reaches, at the very least, the expected levels of speech and language skills at age five.
I will continue to follow this issue up with the Department; I recently accepted an invitation from the Prime Minister to become the new Education Secretary’s Parliamentary Private Secretary.
The role includes liaising with the Department’s Ministers and my parliamentary colleagues.
I also continue to work alongside West Sussex MPs on the issue of fair school funding; the new Secretary of State has confirmed that Government policy remains to introduce this.
These are issues that I will continue to pursue in the months and years ahead.
- I would also like to advise that I will be holding an open public meeting with executives from Govia Thameslink Railway on the unacceptable condition of the rail service; on Thursday, 25th August, at 7.00pm in the Sports Hall at St. Wilfrid’s Secondary School, Old Horsham Road, Southgate, Crawley, West Sussex RH11 8PG.