Local Labour candidate Carol Mochan was in Drongan last week talking to local people about Scottish Labour's plans for a Fair Start Fund for local primary schools. Labour plan to make a grant to schools via primary school head teachers based on all children from disadvantaged backgrounds. It will be used at the discretion of schools to reduce the attainment gap. Every pupil from a disadvantaged background will be given £1,000 per year. Three and four year olds from the poorest families in nursery will be awarded £300 per year.
Carol said,
"Primary schools in East Ayrshire would receive an additional £2 million from our Fair Start Fund. We will pay for this by asking those lucky enough to earn over £150,000 to pay a little more by bringing back the 50p top rate of tax - a move the SNP refuse to back. The SNP government have let our children down badly. The SNP budget will just make things worse, with £500 million of cuts to local councils for services like schools. The SNP say we should judge them on their record after 8 years and we will judge them above all on their record on education. Today too many children are left behind and will spend the rest of their lives trying to catch up. 6,000 children leave primary school in Scotland unable to read properly. There are 4,000 fewer teachers in our classrooms. 152,000 college places have been cut. Children from richer families are twice as likely to go to university as those from poorer homes. Student debt is up and grants have been slashed. Primary classes sizes are bigger than when the SNP came to power. That's why we are asking people to vote for Scottish Labour and for 'Kids not Cuts' "
Carol said,
"Primary schools in East Ayrshire would receive an additional £2 million from our Fair Start Fund. We will pay for this by asking those lucky enough to earn over £150,000 to pay a little more by bringing back the 50p top rate of tax - a move the SNP refuse to back. The SNP government have let our children down badly. The SNP budget will just make things worse, with £500 million of cuts to local councils for services like schools. The SNP say we should judge them on their record after 8 years and we will judge them above all on their record on education. Today too many children are left behind and will spend the rest of their lives trying to catch up. 6,000 children leave primary school in Scotland unable to read properly. There are 4,000 fewer teachers in our classrooms. 152,000 college places have been cut. Children from richer families are twice as likely to go to university as those from poorer homes. Student debt is up and grants have been slashed. Primary classes sizes are bigger than when the SNP came to power. That's why we are asking people to vote for Scottish Labour and for 'Kids not Cuts' "