For many of us this week, including myself, it’s back to school week.

Among the new school bags, new school shoes, and new haircuts, it’s also a time for a fresh start and a new beginning. A time to reflect on the year ahead, the big challenges we’ve got to face, as well as the opportunities a new year brings.

After 14 wasted years, government must, can and will do more too. Labour will put education back at the heart of national life. We will ensure school is the best place to be for every child, with free breakfast clubs in primary schools, and better mental-health support and inclusion for children with special educational needs and disabilities within mainstream settings right across the age range.

As children go back to school, this Labour government has announced the scrapping of single headline Ofsted judgements with immediate effect, paving the way for the introduction of School Report Cards from September 2025. We will also utilise attendance data to spot problems early, nip them in the bud and help children back into the classroom.

This new Labour government will drive high and rising standards across schools and break down barriers to opportunity. That includes making the curriculum richer and broader, improving careers guidance and recruiting 6,500 expert teachers.

I’ve had the privilege of visiting many of our schools across Bolton to see some of the great work that is happening locally, and I’m looking forward to getting round to everyone and establishing good working relationships with you all.

I strongly believe that everyone should have access to a decent education, and the right support throughout. I’m keen to see our children and young people in Bolton go on and achieve great things, and more importantly, to have access to opportunities no matter whether they’re growing up in Breightmet or Bromley Cross.

If we don’t get the right start in life, we limit our abilities to succeed in life. That’s why education must be at the heart of everything we do, and delivering for future generations is exactly where we should be starting.

I’ve also spent the summer recess recruiting staff and setting up my office in time for the new academic year. Setting everything up takes time, and I want to reassure you that with a capable and experienced team almost in place, I am now in a position to respond to local residents who have been writing to me since my election two months ago.

I will be publishing my new office address and contact number as soon as both are up and running. In the meantime, you can write to me at kirith.entwistle.mp@parliament.uk.

Thank you for your patience and continued support.