On May 4th the Adver published information given by Swindon head teachers on the school funding crisis.

The head teachers are to be congratulated on their stand. It isn’t easy for people in their position to put their head above the parapet and most schools in the town and across the country are facing similar pressures.

It is a shame that the Adver published this story the day after the local council elections. Was this a deliberate choice?

Whichever way people decided to vote consideration of funding in education is an important part of the decision process at an election.

In several recent education stories, the Adver has quoted comments from our MPs that spending in our schools is as high as ever.

Theresa May said it on TV. We were being given the usual message: our MPs know better than everyone else up to and including professionals delivering quality education in chronically underfunded schools.

We get the same message when our MPs deny the NHS crisis and deny their agenda to privatise it.

Finally, the Adver says Swindon’s MPs have “noted” the Institute of Fiscal Studies “found that the government has protected the core schools budget”. Is that the same IFS that reported that “real terms … there will still have been a cut of 4.6 per cent between 2015 and 2019”?

And that after the emergency addition injection of £1.3bn which resulted from the National Education Union Campaign at the time.

Peter Smith

Woodside Avenue, Swindon

Foster carers needed

Thank you for helping to promote Foster Care Fortnight (May 14-27) - it plays an invaluable role in bringing the importance of foster care to people’s attention.

Whilst we cannot tell you the names or show you pictures of the many children in care in Swindon and Wiltshire, we can confirm that their numbers are increasing and that the number of foster carers is not keeping pace.

We would therefore appeal to anyone who has ever considered fostering to come forward.

Almost anyone can apply to foster, provided they are aged between 25 and 70 and in good health.

At Community Foster Care, a charity and not-for-profit agency, we provide free training and 24-hour support every step of the way.

There are currently more than 400 children in foster care in Wiltshire – children who, through no fault of their own, need support, understanding and a safe place to be at a difficult time in their young lives.

Foster carers make a huge difference to their life chances, offering them the kind of stability they may have never known, and enabling them to develop and grow.

It can be a hugely rewarding role and a life-changing experience – and hopefully one which many of your readers might wish to try.

Mark Kingston

Chief Executive, Community Foster Care

Royal Wootton Bassett