MANY might say that the headteachers are late coming to the party when comes to the appeal over funding.

But they are right to make a plea and now might be good timing as the Government still has time to have a good look at its new funding formula.

When we reported on the funds previously we used an online spreadsheet which showed the expected new funds for many of our schools.

Many are set to lose when the National Funding Formula begins in April 2018.

How we can plan to give our schools less money is beyond belief.

We may be going through the age of austerity but we must draw the line somewhere.

The NHS and education are two areas that are desperate for money and affect us the most. Few things cause upset to us and our future more than a lack of care and a lack of good teaching.

If teaching standards fall then the danger is that we let our children down. The next Tim Peake, the next generation of workers, bosses and entrepreneurs.

Our children must have room to learn and to love education.

If the money is not there to keep standards up then we are in big trouble.

We have already heard about schools having to cut the number of teaching assistants.

And there have been threats in West Sussex of having to cut the school day and of increasing class sizes.

These are exactly the kinds of changes which will let families down.

Parents are right to expect to see their children given the best possible start in life.