Election 2019: Conservative manifesto lacks focus on children and young people, sector leaders warn

25 November 2019 2 mins read Nina Jacobs Education Children's Services

Children’s sector leaders have slammed the Conservative Party’s election manifesto over a lack of focus on children and young people.

The Early Years Alliance describes a proposed £1bn new childcare fund as “loose change” from the Conservatives. Picture: Adobe Stock

Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled the party’s election pledges in a 59-page document on Sunday, but has been accused of failing to address the full extent of the funding crisis affecting early years settings, schools and colleges.

Despite promises by the Conservatives to deliver an extra £14bn in funding for schools, the National Education Union (NEU) said what the party was offering schools was “too little too late”.

Reacting to the document’s launch, Dr Mary Bousted, NEU’s joint general secretary, said: “This manifesto seems very relaxed about the exclusion of young people and has no positive ideas on how to help schools work with families and local authorities to prevent or bring down the number of child exclusions.

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