Labour candidate for Tower Hamlets mayor signs Early Years Pledge

Labour’s candidate running for Tower Hamlets mayor has signed up to the national ‘Early Years’ pledge to protect nurseries and children’s centres.

John Biggs looked in at the Association for Early Childhood Education’s Whitechapel offices in London’s deprived East End last night to sign the pledge while on his campaign trail for May’s local elections.

“This campaign takes a pragmatic approach to the spending pressures local authorities face,” he said. “But it also prioritises early years services to ensure universal provision is protected for all our families.”

The commitments are key election targets for candidates in the local polls for mayor and Tower Hamlets councillors focusing on children and families, including pledges for free school meals to all primary-aged youngsters.

Early Education Chief Executive Beatrice Merrick said: “We understand local authorities face difficult decisions about budgets, but protecting early years spending recognises the role of early intervention to give children the best start in life.”

The Early Years Pledge is to safeguard children’s centres, nursery schools and specialist local authority services for disabled youngsters and those with special educational needs.