Warrington South MP on education, apprenticeships and jobs

THIS week, two new terms are beginning in my house.

I am back in Parliament after spending summer recess here in Warrington, while my eldest starts his first year of high school.

I’m sure lots of parents across Warrington know the feeling.

You spend weeks thinking about uniforms, shoes and whether they have everything they need.

Then the day arrives and suddenly you’re thinking much further ahead.

Who will they become?

What will they be good at?

What opportunities will be there for them?

As parents, we want our children to find something they enjoy and are good at, and to have the chance to make something of it.

Some of that starts with getting the basics right.

No child should struggle to learn because they are hungry, and parents shouldn’t be worrying about the cost of compulsory branded uniform.

So I’m pleased that from this September more families will get help through free school meals and free breakfast clubs, alongside new rules introduced by this government to bring down the cost of uniforms.

For many years now, we have acted as though there is one route to success.

There isn’t.

University will be right for some.

But for others it will be college, technical training or an apprenticeship.

Warrington is well placed to make that work.

We have major employers in engineering, nuclear, energy, science and technology, professional services, and video game development, alongside our wonderful local businesses who are the backbone of our economy.

We need to be doing much more to connect the skills young people learn here with the jobs being created here.

I don’t expect every young person growing up in Warrington to stay here.

Nor should they.

Part of growing up is having the freedom to decide where life takes you.

What I do want is for staying to be a real choice too.

A good education should give all young people options.

And if they want to build their career and their life here in Warrington, we should make sure they have every opportunity to do it.