Category Archives: MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
Nicky Morgan’s Webchat Answers Reinforce DfE’s Inconsistent and Illogical Summer Born Policy
In a live Telegraph webchat today with Nicky Morgan (hosted by online Education Editor Josie Gurney-Read), the Education Secretary’s answer to Summer Born Campaign member Samantha McCormick highlighted the subjectivity and inconsistency that the DfE’s policy allows – but also her comments on … Continue reading
Michael Gove MP Formally Supports the Summer Born Campaign
Citing his Liberal Democrat and Labour peers Annette Brooke and Stephen Twigg inspiration, former Education Secretary Michael Gove has contacted the Summer Born Campaign group to offer his full and unwavering support. He said, “I watched the March 4th Education Committee coverage … Continue reading
Labour MP Stephen Twigg Formally Supports Our Campaign: ‘No child should be forced to miss a vital year of learning’
Stephen Twigg, Labour and Co-operative MP for Liverpool West Derby and former Shadow Secretary of State for Education has today given his full support to the Summer Born Campaign: “No child should be forced by our education system to miss … Continue reading
Why a Right of Appeal is so Wrong – it still Means NO Right to a FULL Education for ALL Summer Born Children
The Education Committee’s recommendation for the government to consider a Right of Appeal in all summer born admissions is NOT EVIDENCE BASED. Suggesting a Right of Appeal means the Committee accepts that for some children, it is in their best interests to miss … Continue reading
Education Committee Recommendations Miss the Mark – 2014 DfE Code and Advice ARE the Problem so Why Recommend Further Implementation?
The number 1 message the Summer Born Campaign has sought to communicate over the past two years is how the 2012 & 2014 School Admissions Codes (plus DfE ‘Advice’) have DIRECTLY resulted in an unfair postcode lottery and missed years of education. Other … Continue reading
Retiring MP Annette Brooke Voices Loyal Support to Summer Born Campaign
“I believe firmly that parents of summer borns should have a genuine choice for their child and for that child to be able to start school in reception year aged 5.” As readers of this website will know, Annette Brooke … Continue reading
Three Ministers in three years Promise us Flexibility – but Actions Speak Louder than Words – will Nick Gibb DO something between now and April Offer Day?
Or will this be a Hat Trick for False Hope? March 4, 2015 – “The key thing is flexibility.” Education Minister, Nick Gibb March 24, 2014 – “we will take action if we find that schools are not paying attention to … Continue reading
Watch Education Committee meeting LIVE
The evidence check begins at 9.30am today, March 4, 2015. You can watch live here. And join the conversation on Twitter using hashtag #StartingSchool Witnesses: – Helen Kirrane, Campaigns and Policy Manager, Bliss – Tammy Campbell, Researcher and Analyst, UCL … Continue reading
Written Submissions Published ahead of March 4th Evidence Session
The Education Committee has published its ‘Evidence Check‘ written submissions on school starting age and summer born children, which were received by the February 23, 2015 deadline. They can be read here and include: Written evidence submitted by the Summer Born Campaign Group
Education Committee Announces Witnesses for March 4th Evidence Session
The Education Committee’s ‘Starting School‘ evidence session begins at 9.30am on Wednesday 4th March, and further information has now been published here, including: Purpose of the Session “This is the second topic selected as part of the ‘Evidence check’ web forum, building on … Continue reading
@CommonsEd tweets @sb_campaign in Call for Comments and Questions for the DfE Next Week
Email educom@parliament.uk (with #startingschool in subject line) Tweet using the hashtag #startingschool Education Committee Chair Graham Stuart (@grahamstuart) said today: “The issues around school starting age and summer born children are complex and controversial.
Hampshire Conservative MP: “We start too much formal learning too soon”
It may be just coincidence, given Hampshire County Council’s more progressive approach to admissions for summer born children than many others, but in a recent debate, Havant’s Conservative MP David Willetts said: “…there are stages of mental development to which styles of … Continue reading
Bradford MP and Member of Education Committee Encourages Constituents to Submit Views and Evidence
Bradford MP David Ward, Liberal Democrat Member of the House of Commons Education Select Committee is asking his constituents to take part in what he describes as the “important issue” of the government’s current summer born policy. Written submissions can be submitted online until … Continue reading
LibDem MP Formally Objects to School Admissions Code
Annette Brooke MP has submitted a formal motion objecting to the revised School Admissions Code (The Code is issued under S 84(3) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, as amended), praying: “That the draft School Admission Code, which … Continue reading
Commissioner promises to “relentlessly champion the interests and rights of children”
Last Tuesday, the pre-appointment hearing for the next Children’s Commissioner in England took place, with Anne Longfield OBE, Chief Executive, 4Children, answering questions posed by the Chair of the Education Select Committee. The issue of summer born children was mentioned briefly … Continue reading
Education MPs have a Blind Spot for School Starting Age
Education Minister Nick Gibb ‘tells schools to copy China‘ in the Daily Mail, demonstrating how readily MPs can isolate single aspects of other countries’ education practices – without uttering one single word about when those children start school (also see former Education Secretary Michael Gove’s high praise of Canadian … Continue reading
Key Priority for new Children’s Commissioner – Have Your Say Today
Up until midday today (Monday 10 November) you can send your views on what the 2015 Children’s Commissioner’s key priority should be via Twitter, using the hashtag #OCCintray. With the term of office of the current Children’s Commissioner coming to an end early next year, … Continue reading
Gove’s Gone
But what will it mean for the chances of compulsory school age summer born children being allowed to access a whole education and a full curriculum? It’s too soon to say, but like countless others with education issues, summer born parents … Continue reading
MP Graham Stuart: It’s worth examining Giving Parents the Right
In an April 2014 summer born interview, Conservative MP and current Chair of the Education Select Committee, told trainee journalist Fayrouz Shehrezade Essack, “Personally I think that giving parents the right, so that they don’t lose their positions in terms of gaining … Continue reading
Support for Summer Borns in Parliament tonight
More details to follow soon, but the feedback so far from a Parliamentary seminar in the House of Commons this evening is very positive for summer born children. The seminar asked, “What is the future for Early Years Education?” and … Continue reading
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