Maria Miller, MP for Basingstoke has called for schools to be supported to provide more wrap around care after visiting St John’s CofE Primary school. St John’s provides before and after-school care for pupils but appropriate space limits their numbers.
Maria said, “St John’s school provides an excellent package of extra provision with a breakfast club that starts at 7:30am and an after-school club that runs until 6pm. This wrap-around care at the school allows parents to go to work in the knowledge that their children are cared for in a safe learning environment. But numbers are limited by the availability of appropriate space. More support for schools to expand wrap around care would be one way to help working parents and give children the best start in life.
“The school’s popular breakfast club routinely caters for 40 pupils and the after-school club regularly has 37 pupils benefiting from the provision, there is a waiting list, and the only restriction is space”.
The primary school currently has 315 pupils and has mixed year groups in all forms except year R where there are two separate forms.
Maria added, “I want all schools to be good or outstanding in Basingstoke to ensure that all children have the opportunity of the best possible education. St John’s school have found that mixed forms help with behaviour and attitude to learning with all pupils and with a Good Ofsted and an excellent rating by the church the school is also part of the Inspire Teacher Training Scheme.
“Pupils were eager to chat about their school and said they felt safe where they lived. They wanted to protect our green spaces, reduce litter in our parks with more waste bins being provided, and have graffiti cleaned to make the town a better place to live. The pupils were also excited to know more about Basingstoke’s new hospital”.
