When I was elected MP for the Forest of Dean, one of my priorities was and still remains ensuring that children in the Forest of Dean receive the best high-quality education and have all the opportunities and resources they need to excel in whatever they dream of.

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting Greenwood’s nursery in Coalway, to see the amazing work they are doing in their SEND offer, and in taking part in the ELSEC programme, which aims to improve early intervention, identification and support for children with speech, language and communication needs. It was a pleasure to speak with staff about their experiences of the programme and to hear their feedback, which I will take back to officials at the Department for Education.

I am grateful to the staff for taking the time to meet with me and for the dedication they show in giving children across the Forest of Dean the very best start through high-quality early years education.

I am pleased to see some of the work the Government is doing to invest in communities and future generations, as set out in the Schools White Paper, “Every Child Achieving and Thriving.”

I am committed to ensuring that children and families in the Forest of Dean benefit fully from this investment and that the Forest receives its fair share.

For far too long, the Forest of Dean has been forgotten by those who should be investing in the children of our future. Children in the Forest deserve the same opportunities as anyone else in the country. This is something I will always stand up for.

Since being elected, I have been working with the Department of Education to address the serious issues facing Forest High School in Cinderford regarding its school building. Years of delay, uncertainty and inaction have left students and teachers trying to achieve their best in conditions that are simply not acceptable. Children should not be expected to learn with leaking roofs, failing infrastructure or among concerns about the condition of the school estate.

That is why I have launched a petition calling on the Government to urgently approve funding for a brand-new school building before another generation of students is forced to settle for less than they deserve.

I know that many of you may have attended Forest High School – formerly known as Heywood Community School - yourselves, or have children, grandchildren, and other relatives who are current or former pupils there. I understand just how important the school is to our community, and it is vital that action is taken now to ensure it remains part of the Forest for generations to come.

I urge you to take the time to sign the petition and help secure the future of our school. We need as many signatures as possible to ensure that the voices of the Forest and our young people are heard loud and clear in Westminster. You can access the petition through visiting https://c.org/bZWsKjqMCw Every signature brings us one step closer to saving our school.