§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware that a number of five-year-old children in West Ham, North, are unable to commence their education because teachers are not available; and what action he will take to ensure that these children receive their education in accordance with the law.
§ Mr. CroslandI understand that 79 children of statutory school age could not be admitted to three schools in my hon. Friend's constituency at the beginning of the present term because sufficient36W teachers were not available. Parents were given the chance to send their children to other schools in Newham some distance from their homes, but few have taken advantage of this offer. The Newham local education authority hope to be able to admit some of these children during the course of the present term.
The responsibility for recruiting teachers rests with the local education authority. I am willing to discuss with them any measures which they think might overcome their present difficulty in finding infants teachers.