The Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has heralded “a new era of child-centred government where children come first”, that enables them to achieve and thrive at school and beyond.
Phillipson told the Labour Party conference that early education and childcare are her “first priority” as Education Secretary.
She reiterated her focus on delivery quality early years education to reduce attainment gaps between rich and poor children which open up before they start primary school, enabling all children to excel once they arrive in the classroom.
The news comes after the Chancellor’s announcement of the roll out of early adopters to begin delivery of the governments new free breakfast clubs, two years after the Education Secretary first pledged to deliver them, further demonstrating that change has begun in education under the Labour government.
Phillipson has already begun the process of reforming Ofsted by ending single word judgements, launched a review of the national curriculum and assessment system, and established Skills England to provide more opportunities for young people and deliver the skills businesses need.
This week, the Prime Minister will also unveiled plans to reform the apprenticeship levy into a new growth and skills levy that will create more high-quality vocational opportunities for young people, and offer more flexibility for learners and employers.
The Education Secretary outlined her plan for reform of education “centred not simply on schools or nurseries, knowledge or skills, university or college…but on our young people: on their chance to achieve and thrive, to succeed and flourish”.
The Education Secretary said that “if we are to build a better society for tomorrow, we must change the childhood of today”.
Labour’s child-centred approach will focus on breaking down barriers to opportunity beyond the school gates, as well as those in the classroom, including mental ill health and child poverty through measures such as additional mental health counselling support in schools and developing a comprehensive child poverty strategy through the Child Poverty Taskforce. Labour will publish the Children’s Wellbeing Bill in the coming months, which will put children and their wellbeing at the centre of the education and children’s social care systems, and make changes to ensure children are safe, healthy, happy and treated fairly.
Phillipson unveils “new era of child-centred government” to boost attainment and life chances
