AS a mum to a premature baby herself, Angela Rayner knows all too well the rollercoaster of emotions that affected families go through.
The Deputy Prime Minister has visited a school in her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency which has been recognised by a charity for meeting specific needs that children born prematurely might have.
The Labour MP was accompanied at Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC School by her 16-year-old son Charlie, who was born at 23 weeks.
In 2021, the primary school was awarded Prem Aware status by premature baby charity The Smallest Things for leading the way in the whole of the North West for supporting children born earlier than expected.
MP Rayner was joined at the Holden Street establishment by headteacher Helen Hayes, the school’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo) Janet Bostock, other teaching staff and parents.
“I was really impressed with the dedication shown by staff at Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Primary to make sure that all children are given the best chance to thrive,” said Ashton-under-Lyne’s representative in the House of Commons.
“It was lovely to meet The Smallest Things team and hear about the incredibly valuable work they are doing to support children that were born prematurely as they progress through their education journey.”
Also in attendance at the school were Catriona Ogilvy and Sarah Miles – trustees of The Smallest Things.
Catriona, mum to Samuel who was born at 29 weeks, founded the charity in 2014 to recognise the journey through neonatal care does not end when parents bring their baby or babies home from hospital.
“As a parent-led charity, we recognise that Angela gets it,” she said. “Like us, she’s been there too.
“We look forward to working with Angela and her team to make sure the needs of families of children born prematurely remain high on the new government’s agenda.”