Recently, the Education Select Committee announced inquiries into school and college funding and special education needs and disabilities (SEND). I am delighted to see a focus on these important areas.

Schools sit at the heart of our communities, they’re not just places where children and young people develop academically, but socially and emotionally too. They play a key role in promoting resilience and wellbeing and preparing all learners to become active citizens of the future. Every day really counts. In addition, schools are increasingly going above and beyond, taking steps to ‘poverty proof’ the school day by providing the most vulnerable pupils with essentials such as food, clothes and even sanitary products, despite facing significant financial pressures of their own.