MORE THAN 100 children from Charford First School have been raising awareness of school funding cuts by taking part in a mass ‘floss’.
The youngsters of all ages’ carried out the ‘floss for funding’ based on the dance craze to protest against the reduction in the amount of cash the school received.
The event was supported by all the staff and the school community from younger siblings and toddlers to parents and grandparents.
Photographs and pictures have been shared across social media with the hashtag #flossforfunding
Event organiser Jo Evans, who is a parent of two of the children at the school and is also a teacher, said it went really well.
“The children who took part understand how much the funding cuts could impact the education they get from Charford first school.
“I can see how much the funding cuts are impacting on the education system and these cuts are unfair and unsustainable.
“They have sports coordinators in most lunchtimes and after school who run a huge variety of clubs, they’re lucky enough to have an excellent forest school team and a huge focus on creativity and expression.
She added there was also currently superb library facilities and even outdoor libraries which would not be there if the funding cuts continued.
Coun Chris Bloore, who was at the event before the school day started this morning, said: “It was a really good turn-out from the children, parents, teachers and staff.
“The kids were brilliant – it was a bit of fun but with a very serious message as well.
“Charford First School is losing tens of thousands of pounds each year.
“Everyone at the school is doing all they can to raise money but that’s just enough to pay the bills and keep their head above water.”
He warned if things carried on the way they were, the school would be unable to employ the number of teachers and other staff it needed and may even have to let people go in the future.
“For children, staff and teachers to have to raise funds to give the children a descent education is ridiculous.
“Charford First is such a good school which is the cornerstone of the community.
“It deserves to get what it needs to continue its fantastic work.”
