Readers’ letters, July 24
Education has a funding crisis and this is due to the corrosive cuts to the budgets of the large majority of schools that are impacting on staffing, learning resources and the choices within the curriculum.
So, what of the impact on local schools?
In Morecambe, substantial cuts are underway. For example, West End Primary School is trying to maintain its standards while absorbing a reduced income between 2015 and 2020 of £105,520, which is a cut of £533 per child.
Carnforth North Road Primary’s income is diminishing by £93,657 over the same time, equalling a cut of £490 per child and Bolton-le-Sands Church of England Primary School is dealing with a cut of £48,272 equalling a cut of £160 per child. (Source http://schoolcuts.org.uk.)
This has led to a rise in class sizes, redundancy of staff and reduced investment in resources and building maintenance.
The Department for Education boldly states that the budget per pupil is being maintained. On the surface this is true, but what is not mentioned the fact that this ‘stable budget’ does not recognise the added costs on school budgets through for example increased insurance, raised utility costs, higher expectations for SEN support and inflation.
Also note problems are developing amongst academy schools with group after group going with their begging bowls to the Government to bail them out, taking even more resources from the state schools and leaving less for the vast majority of pupils.
Name and address supplied
Potholes
I would like to ask readers to stop complaining about all the potholes in the area and just report them. It is so easy on a computer, just go to https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel and follow the links.They usually action the reports within a few weeks.
Good luck.
Potty Potholer, Name and address supplied
Litter
Litter isn’t a just problem confined to our parks or our county but to our entire country. You only have to walk a few feet along any street in England to see the extent of the problem. We are a nation of slobs – it’s disgusting.
We need more education, more bins, better recycling, more discipline. People are treating our beautiful country like a landfillsite. It’s so sad. I’m ashamed to be English sometimes.
Jane Allsop, email address supplied
Social care
Social care cannot be undervalued and underfunded any longer.
Here at Anchor care homes, we have been highlighting a social care crisis for years and we now face a dangerous shortfall in the number of carers to support our ageing population and vulnerable adults. Today, we unite to urge the Government to value social care and the indispensable contribution the workforce makes to society. The social care sector faces a potential shortfall of up to 1.1m carers by 2037.
Only by the Government demonstrating it values social care and its workforce will we have a chance to recruit and retain the hardworking and committed staff our ageing population needs.
Julie McLean, Anchor Homes
Bin collections
Would it be possible to instruct refuse collectors to return bins to the kerb instead of leaving then on the roadside, where they can become a traffic obstruction to cars, delivery vans, taxis, ambulances and other increasing numbers of vehicles?
I have already pointed out to the department residents may not always be available, due to holidays or other absences, to do this themselves.
Name and address supplied