Lisa Nandy MP: Labour is supporting Wigan families to get ready for primary school

Last Thursday was National Primary School Offer Day with families across Wigan finding out which primary school their child will be attending in September.

To mark that moment the Government has launched a new package of support to help children and families in our area prepare for starting school.

The move comes as over a third (37%) of children nationally are starting school without the basic skills they need for the classroom, with teachers and charities finding many children arriving in Reception unable to use the toilet independently, communicate clearly or follow simple instructions.

As part of Labour’s aim to get a record number of children school ready, the guidance published last week will provide parents across Wigan with a clear idea of the support available to them during one of the most important stages of their children’s lives.

For the first time, new guidance sets out how schools, nurseries, and childminders should work together as one system around families to get children ready for Reception – making clear that Offer Day is the starting point for children beginning their school education.

It sets three key building blocks for a smooth start: strong relationships with families, close partnership working between schools, nurseries and childminders, and early identification of children’s needs, including SEND (special educational needs and disabilities). 

It includes practical examples to follow, like home visits and stay and play sessions, giving families the opportunity to visit their new school, or for teachers to visit children in their early years setting.

The package is backed by continued investment in the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) programme until 2029, and comes as a new national campaign, fronted by award-winning teacher and rapper MC Grammar, gives parents simple ways to practise key skills at home.

 The NELI programme helps children who need extra support with speech and language to catch up during Reception.

It has already been shown to deliver strong results, with an evaluation finding that it boosts language skills by an additional four months for children on the programme compared to those that aren’t, or up to seven months for children from more deprived backgrounds.

The national campaign from Best Start in Life, featuring MC Grammar, shows that school readiness is about everyday skills like communication, independence and confidence.

It features a new Steps for School song to help parents and children identify the key skills they’ll need from getting dressed and using the toilet to listening, speaking and following instructions.

 Children growing up in Wigan deserve the best start in life – nothing less.

But that doesn’t happen by magic, it needs government, parents and nurseries to come together to make it a reality.

No government has ever made the early years such a priority – from opening new Best Start Family Hubs to making early years education more accessible and affordable for parents.

 Labour is on your side, that’s why we’re backing parents with new services and practical advice to make life easier.