Jan 13, 2024, Newark Advertiser: Newark MP Robert Jenrick to represent concerns of teachers for special educational needs support after visit to Chuter Ede primary school in Fernwood https://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/news/amp/mp-s-visit-an-opportunity-to-explore-support-for-pupils-with-9348519/
Central England
Concerns over funding and support for a primary school will be with officials — after teachers explained their issues to Newark MP Robert Jenrick.
Mr Jenrick paid a visit to Chuter Ede’s Fernwood site yesterday (January 12), where he spoke with staff and students about the school, their concerns about funding and government support, and also their successes.
He was taken on a tour of the site by Bernadette Hunter — headteacher of both the Balderton and Fernwood sites — and head of school at Fernwood, Rachel Revill.
A particular concern raised was adequate support and funding for children with special educational needs (SEN) who are in mainstream schools, as they felt there was not always an adequate budget to provide the best care and education for students’ individual needs….
Mrs Hunter said: “I think it is great to see him and that he is interested in the school.
“It’s a chance to air some concerns about education and make him aware of some challenges the school faces — and which all schools face. In particular we have talked about SEN and the high demand and funding around it.
“It gives us an opportunity to see what he can do for us.”
She explained the visit was also of interest to the pupils and should spark discussion of politics, British values and parliament at an age-appropriate level in the Chat Club….
Mr Jenrick said: “I always enjoy visiting local primary schools to meet the teachers and pupils, and better understand the issues they face and how I can represent them in parliament.
“I’m very pleased to come and meet the team at Chuter Ede and I’ve also had a very enjoyable talk with students.”
He will be meet Nottinghamshire County Council SEN leaders at the end of the month, where he said he will present the concerns that he heard at Chuter Ede and at other schools in the area.
He added: “Chuter Ede is such a well-respected school and it is a pleasure to see it continuing to prosper. The Fernwood site is very important as Fernwood is a rapidly growing community.
“It is great for them to have such a primary school, and also the Suthers School which provides easily accessible, quality secondary education. Previously students from Fernwood had to travel further afield to Bingham or even Lincolnshire to access secondary education.
“It has been a positive transition in the past few years.”
