Southampton Itchen Labour MP John Denham has criticised the Tory-led government for focusing on "free schools" while 70 primary school children in Southampton have been left with no school place for the new term.
He says Education Secretary Michael Gove “is wasting money on free schools in areas that have surplus places at the cost of additional places in local schools that Southampton parents need”.
“There is something that feels terribly cruel about not having places for these reception class children in particular, who will not only be left out as they see their friends going to school, but will have to settle in when they do get a place when all their classmates will already have done so," says Mr Denham on his blog.