Lib Dems smaller class sizes?

[CwtchyMama]

I am just curious about this policy of theirs.where will they get the extra cash to build the extra schools needed?

Also where do they plan on building them?

Not being funny,cos i know who i am voting for,i am genuinely curious how they intend to fund it.

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

CwtchyMama - me too, and curious where all the money to pay for the thousands of extra teachers will come from.

[CwtchyMama]

Anyone??

DS will start reception in our village school this september,we have already been told there will be about 35 pupils in the yr.

So does this mean they will build another school?

Now the only available land to build another school will be on the playing field that all the children play on,so does it come down to the need for another school or the need for a playing area for the kiddies?

So does that also mean then that they will accept more pupils from the next town?If so how will they get to school?In their parents cars?Its a bit too far to walk & its not very eco friendly to encourage more vehicles on the roads.

I am confused as to whether this poicy has been thought through properly.

[CwtchyBlueMama]

Aside from the extra land needed where is the money coming from?

And,i agree with you MintHumbug,what about people who live in densely populated areas,where will their extra schools be built?

[LadycAshcroft]

I honestly read the thread title as "Smaller Dress Sizes". Well, if they could arrange for me to get into smaller dress sizes without hard work, they would get my vote.

[CwtchyBlueMama]

me too.

[veselaliberalka]

The figures for the costings are at the back of the manifesto at www.libdems.org.uk/home.aspx. It's the Lib Dems' only major spending commitment and it is costed - over and above the Lib Dems' deficit reduction plans.

The money can be used for smaller class sizes or for more one-to-one teaching - whatever works for a particular school. Up to the head to decide (Lib Dem education policy also gives a lot more freedom to individual schools to decide what's best for them).

[veselaliberalka]

there is also a Pupil Premium which is basically a funding increase for the most disadvantaged pupils (initially those with special needs/who have English as a second language/on free school meals/in care).

[TheCrackFox]

Please don't fall for that promise. In Scotland the SNP promised class sizes of 18 pupils - DS2 is starting school in August in a class size of 30.

There isn't enough money and much more importantly room for smaller class sizes.

[CwtchyBlueMama]

But where will they build the extra schools?

Like i said the only land available to build a school on is the local playing field.so do we then lose that as a community thing?

Also what about people who live in cities?

[veselaliberalka]

CwtchyBlueMama, they don't have to build larger schools if there's no room for them. They can use the money for more one-to-one tuition.

[CwtchyBlueMama]

So who decides what pupils will get the one-to-one tuition?

[veselaliberalka]

The headteachers.

[veselaliberalka]

with the use of the Pupil Premium, which is funding that follows disadvantaged pupils (see above).

[veselaliberalka]

here is a good summary of the Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem education proposals, written by candidates who are involved in teaching.

[veselaliberalka]

MintHumbug, they wouldn't have to take fewer pupils to accommodate smaller class sizes. There would be no diktat saying "you must have smaller class sizes." It's money that can be used for smaller class sizes/more one-to-one.

It's difficult to explain when people are used to top-down Whitehall solutions.

[CwtchyBlueMama]

Still not convinced tbh.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Well, the Lib Dem council here voted to close DDs small nursery and amalgamate it with others causing much bigger class size.

[veselaliberalka]

But then the alternative is to carry on having huge class sizes/too little attention for children who need extra... There may not be room to build everywhere, but let's do something to tackle one of the main problems in education today.

[veselaliberalka]

that is fanjo.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Yes, and it was saved from the axe in 2007, but now is under threat again. DD has SN and is doing really well there.

[TheCrackFox]

Do you live in Edinburgh Fanjo? The Lib Dem/SNP council here have just increased class sizes and want (need?) to make savings of £20million in the education budget.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

yes I do live in Edinburgh, it will affect my DD's whole future if she has to go into a larger class.