A survey by the LGA says that 20% of councils have experienced increased demand for state school places in the past six months – with another 13% of councils expecting extra pressure on places in the future. We can agree some of this problem is being caused by the recession but if the LGA and the government read postings on this site in the last year they will learn this is not a new phenomenon. Parents would like them to understand the terrible problems over schools places.

Of course it is possible there is something other than themselves to blame for the shortage but nothing has been done to deal with the school place shortage that causes families up and down the country not just hours and months but years of stress.

Okay Government are offering £200m to overcome the shortage of places but with no indication of which councils will receive help and how fair the distribution of money. Plus as we know from the past this sort of promise rarely happens to materialize. We are told again this morning there are surplus places all over the country be what use are they if they are not in the place where the children need them. Really they should be allowed to get off with this sort of promise instead of an overall solution.

Having forced all 4 year olds into school we now have no provision for them, shame on you Ed Balls this is yet another national disgrace which would have happened recession or not.