NASUWT comments on the Conservative Party Conference
As the Conservative Party Conference draws to a close, the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, comments on the key messages which have emerged.
Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary, said:
“There was nothing which came out of the Conservative Party Conference to offer any comfort for the millions of children and families who have seen their public services cut drastically since 2010.
“Claims by the Prime Minister that the Conservatives are the “party of working people” will undoubtedly ring hollow with teachers as schools deal with the impact of significant real-terms cuts to their budgets.
“It has become increasingly clear that the Prime Minister’s commitment to an “all-out assault on poverty” is code for yet further attacks on the poorest households and on all families living on low incomes.
“Cuts to tax credits are set to make life much harder for many more working families who are already struggling to make ends meet.
“The Conservatives’ plan for tackling truancy by docking the benefits paid to families will simply punish children and put many more children at risk.
“The Government needs to address the underlying causes of persistent school absence and ensure that children and families receive the support they need.
“The Prime Minister and the Education Secretary failed to recognise the serious challenges faced by schools and colleges the length and breadth of the country and have once again demonstrated their disregard for the deepening crisis in teacher recruitment and retention which is damaging children’s education.”
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