Happy New Year to you all and I wish you and your families the very best for 2020.

After a lengthy campaign by headteachers and West Sussex MPs, schools have secured increased funding.

Gillian Keegan, Chichester’s MP, said she was ‘delighted’ by the Prime Minister’s announcement of an extra £14 billion for schools, the largest single investment since 2010.

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir David. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Neil O’Brien) on securing this important debate. Access to a high-quality, fulfilling education should not be based on geography.

Education is the best investment we can make. You may have seen my recent speeches in the House of Commons where I raised the importance that access to a good education has on improving life chances.

Gillian Keegan MP visited Portfield Primary School on Friday 14th June. The invitation was also extended to their local County Councillor, Simon Oakley who joined Gillian on the visit.

I too want to thank the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Sir Vince Cable) for securing this important debate. Every one of us in the Chamber is here because we want to fight for children with special educational needs we have met during visits to schools, and for their parents, as the hon.

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Manchester Central (Lucy Powell). I thank her for securing the debate and for the wonderful work she does as chair of the all-party group on nursery schools, nursery and reception classes.

Gillian visited Chichester Free School where she met with teachers, pupils and governors. The MP also took part in an MPs Question Time with students across the school.

On Friday 2nd November Gillian Keegan MP visited Birdham CE Primary School and Bosham CE Primary School.