Lib Dems Call to Cut Class Sizes, Not Schools

3.02.37pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 27th Apr 2006

The latest on government figures released today show that almost 30,000 5-7 year olds are being taught in classes of 31 or over, an increase on 2005. The Liberal Democrats are calling for class sizes to be cut especially for the youngest pupils.

In Kent, falling numbers of school aged children is being used by the County Council to consider school closures and mergers. An alternative approach would be to use the lower intakes to reduce class sizes, which has a proven beneficial effect in improving children's results.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary, Sarah Teather MP said:

"These figures are deeply worrying. Parents want to know that the teacher is going to be able to pay attention to the individual needs of their child.

"The bigger the class the harder it is to give individual children attention. Smaller class sizes create a better learning environment and help foster better behaviour within the classroom. Once again the government is failing to deliver the basics for young children.

"The government should scrap the Child Trust Fund which locks cash away until teens turn 18 and invest the money when it can really make a difference - in smaller class sizes for our youngest pupils."