Parents across Hertfordshire are reeling as they discover that their child does not have a Primary School place for September, and are bracing themselves for a second round of applications.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Education and Childrens’ Services, Mark Watkin (Nascot Park) said “Hundreds of families across the County have a worrying few weeks ahead while they wait to see in HCC can find any extra capacity in their area.

“Parents want to see their children in a good, local school and not having a school place for a child is very stressful.  I am also very concerned for those parents who have not been able to obtain one of their selected schools or will have to travel miles to have their child educated and shall continue to demand that the county ensures  more school places are provided where they are needed in good time for 2015/16.

“I am looking at where there are real blackspots for local families and making sure that County tackles these as soon as possible with extra forms of admission, or if necessary looking at where we can build new schools.

“The real frustration is that so many families are going through so much stress, and so many young children are missing out on the start in life that they deserve, because we are all still paying for the cynical school closures programme that the Conservatives undertook in the 1990s.  We are in this position because of short-sighted and greedy decisions that were made to save money rather than to make sure our children get the excellent education they deserve”