The actions of Renfrewshire’s SNP-led council are disgraceful. They will deny Renfreshire’s children the best start to their pre-school education. It beggars belief that nursery teacher numbers will be cut.

Responding to a report in TESS that the SNP-led Renfrewshire Council is planning to remove all teachers from nursery classes and close its nursery schools,

 

Wendy Alexander said:

 

“The actions of Renfrewshire’s SNP-led council are disgraceful. They will deny Renfrewshire’s children the best start to their pre-school education. It beggars belief that nursery teacher numbers will be cut.

 

“It is bad enough that Education Secretary Adam Ingram admitted the Scottish Government would have to water down its pledge to give every pre-school child access to a nursery teacher, but this situation in Renfrewshire is unacceptable.

 

“Pupils and teachers are suffering from savage education budget cuts. Staffing levels in primary and secondary schools across Renfrewshire are down. On top of that, a recent report pointed out that Renfrewshire had employed none of its 172 teachers who had just completed their probationer year on a permanent full time contract.

 

“The SNP are breaking promises left right and centre. They are raising class sizes in S1 & S2 and closing schools instead of building new schools.”

 

Wendy Alexander, Paisley North MSP, said:

 

“This is yet another example of the cuts to the education budget in Renfrewshire and I have been contacted by many parents who are up in arms at the removal of nursery teachers.”