I was honoured to visit Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Primary to meet The Smallest Things team. The charity offers support to families who have a baby that was born prematurely, just like my son Charlie, who was born at 23 weeks.
The school was awarded Prem School status in 2021 and it was great to hear from the staff about how they look after those children that need a little extra support.
As mum to a premature baby myself, I know the rollercoaster of emotions families go through and I know the worry doesn’t end when you are allowed to leave hospital.
While being born early does not mean a child will have special educational needs, it does increase the chances. With an average of two to three children in every classroom being born prematurely, we know that teachers can play a crucial role in making a difference to the lives of children born prematurely.
Along with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, I met members of the Palestinian community in the UK who have lost loved ones in Gaza. We were joined by Dr Husam Zomlot, Head of the Palestinian mission to the UK.
I am humbled by their immeasurable grief. This horrific suffering must end, there must be an immediate ceasefire, and Israel must let unrestricted aid into Gaza now.
I hosted a very valuable meeting with the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies alongside Lord Wajid Khan.
We discussed the significant contributions made by our Muslim communities and the need to tackle Islamophobia head-on.
It’s so important we recognise the role all our communities play, and build a stronger, more cohesive society.