Rosie Newbigging,  has called for secure funding for Welwyn Hatfield’s state maintained nurseries following a visit to Ludwick Nursery School on Thursday 11 October where she met with Headteacher, Karen James.

Rosie was joined by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Councillors Margaret Birleson, Alan Chesterman and Max Holloway. Councillors Chesterman and Birleson are also governors at the school and generations of their families have attended the school. Currently, there is only a guarantee of secure funding until March 2020 for state maintained nursery schools.

There are three state maintained nursery schools in Welwyn Hatfield – Ludwick, Birchwood and Tenterfield. Maintained nurseries are high quality schools for under-fives that specialise in caring for children with special educational needs and disabilities and children from low income backgrounds. Ludwick has developed as a centre of excellence and has achieved Outstanding (the highest grading) in its last 4 OFSTED inspections. The school is a nationally designated Teaching School and provides training for early years professionals and works closely with families to provide support and training. Independent research has shown that state maintained nurseries provide the highest quality early educations delivering top quality standards. Ludwick hosts the only speech and language unit for children under in Hertfordshire and children from all over the county access this specialist provision.

Rosie said “It was a privilege to visit Ludwick nursery school and hear from Karen James about the wonderful educational opportunities the school offers for some of the most vulnerable children. The school provides a lovely, gentle and nurturing environment for children, staff and families. Schools like Ludwick play an essential part in helping to ensure that all children including those with special educational needs and disabilities and from low income families have a great educational start in life. The funding and future of maintained nurseries schools is under threat by the failure of this Tory government to guarantee secure funding beyond March 2020. Labour will guarantee that funding without hesitation. We recognise the vital importance of early years education and support and support for maintained nurseries goes hand in hand with other policies such as 30 hours free child care for all 2 – 4 year olds as part of the creation of a national education service.  Nelson Mandela once said that education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. Labour knows the power of education.”