Lib Dems pledge 21,000 extra teachers to give children the best start in life

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Charles Kennedy MP, and Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary, Phil Willis MP, today pledged to deliver: 21,000 extra teachers for 5-11 year olds and more individual teacher pupil time for primary school children to boost education.

Charles Kennedy said: "High quality education for our children is essential - for the sake of our society, for the sake of our economy and for the sake of each individual's personal fulfilment.

"Education is the key to so many of the opportunities that our society offers. And it is the best investment that our generation can make on behalf of the next.

"Every parent of young children wishes they could spend more one-to-one time with them. That's sometimes difficult in today's hectic lives. So giving teachers more time to spend with every child will help give children a flying start; so that they can bring out the best in them - so they can inspire our children to learn and to be ambitious.

"The more time a teacher can spend with a child, the better the chances for that child. The Liberal Democrats will fund 21,000 new primary schools teachers; teachers who can bring out the best in them; inspiring our children to learn and to be ambitious.

"This will mean lower class sizes for infants - with an average of only 20 pupils per teacher - down from 25. And lower class sizes for juniors - with an average of 25 pupils per teacher - down from 27."

Liberal Democrats are ambitious for every child and this is the foundation of this pledge.

Instead of a cash hand out for 18 year olds from a Child Trust Fund that favours those whose parents can already afford to save for them we will spend the money reducing class sizes, a measure which benefits all children regardless of their parents wealth or background.

Smaller class sizes create a better learning environment and help foster better behaviour within the classroom.