Friday 15th October 2010

That was Sheffield MP and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg who's been in Chesterfield today to make an announcement that £7 BILLION will be invested in Education, targeting the poorest and most needy members of society.



Speaking to an invited audience of Headteachers, Councillors, Parents and Charity Representatives at Spire Junior School he spelt out the measures the Coalition Government would take .

This weekend will see the final decisions made on the Financial Spending Review - a document Mr Clegg described as "A defining document for this Parliament, and a defining moment for the Coalition.

"Decisions made this week will," he said, "be a test of the Government's character and shape the country's future.

"They are," he added, "guided by a single belief - that they take swift and decisive action but ones that are fair, that promote social mobility and fairness. We have a responsibility to build a Fairer Future for Britain."

He is adamant that the deficit cannot be ignored, saying "the amount the country is losing in interest daily is staggering - around £830 million per week. This sum would build a new school every hour." Mr Clegg countered, "We must act now."

"What is as important as when and where to cut, is how to cut - there are 5 clear principles involved :

- No stone has been left unturned - they have taken tough decisions on Quangos and pensions too.

- Protection is guaranteed for everything that matters to society - the NHS is protected from the cuts.

- Ensuring every group in society makes its contribution to the cuts

- Even as cuts happen, investment in future prosperity is a must. The Spending Review will be a pre Growth document,

- Investing in future fairness which is the main theme of today and one of the guiding principles of the Spending Review."

In what's called the 'Fairness Fund', the Deputy PM laid out the Government's plans to address the fact that, by the time children hang up their coats on the first day of school, brighter but disadvantaged pupils are already two years behind in terms of attainment and progress.

That carries on over the rest of their school careers, meaning, by the time they leave, the odds on Free School Meals pupils getting 5 GCSE A - C grades are one third less than a pupil not on FSM. Government based studies show that children from disadvantaged backgrounds hear fewer words at home, compared to children in middle class homes, meaning that again, cumulatively, they've heard 30 million less words when they start school at 3 years old.

£7 billion will go into the fund over the Spending Review Period, covering a child from the age of 2 to 20. "First shoes, to first suit." commented Mr Clegg.



The 'Fairness Premium' will come in three parts:
- Broken down it means that the cost of providing all disadvantaged children receiving 15 hours of education from 2 years old to help address and close the gaps that open up in attainment will be £300 million a year.

- The Pupil Premium, providing schools with children on free School Meals, targeted help to raise attainment wherever those are, with funding will need £2.5 Billion each year.

- Bright students from poor backgrounds who may face barriers in funding a University place will be helped to remove "obstacles to aspiration". Along with reforms to Higher Education, a student premium will be offered for the least advantaged students which will cost around £115 million per year. There is to be a consultation process with Universities.

"The Government recognises" said Mr Clegg "how tough it is, but are determined to stay the course. Promoting social mobility costs money, but it will improve life chances for kids, and be an investment - giving poorest children a better start in life, helping those children who have least control over their fortunes.

"It's a sizeable commitment, and a difficult process which has meant that, in putting extra resources into this has meant making tougher choices elsewhere. But" asserted Mr Clegg, "we cannot balance the books on the back of the poor, we cannot scale back on the moral obligations and stop the next generations defining their own lives by circumstances of birth. Hard roads must be taken, ensuring that everyone has a chance, it's the right thing to do, invest in the future, even if it makes it harder today."

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OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE CHESTERFIELD POST -
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NEW LOOK FOR AN OLD FAVOURITE 2 -
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MARCH AGAINST THE INCINERATOR -
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NEW LOOK FOR AN OLD FAVOURITE -
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DON'T MESS AROUND -
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MEADOWHALL CELEBRATES 7,000 OPENINGS -
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JOBS AND TOURISM BOOST - Work has begun today on a new multi million pound hotel development that will bring investment and
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