TODAY’S front page and Spotlight make for worrying reading.

Our exclusive report has found the number of Sussex schools looking to cut staff has grown more than ten-fold.

More than two dozen East Sussex schools are beginning redundancy talks and one Brighton primary school is considering cutting 18 of its 30 teaching assistants.

It comes as schools in debt have also doubled in just two years with more than 30 across the county coping with deficits of up to £250,000.

The unions say the funding crisis is unprecedented with Mark Turner, of the GMB, describing it as the worst he has seen it in his 33 years.

In contrast the Government appears to be playing it down, boasting that more money is being put into schools than ever before.

But that is somewhat disingenuous.

They neglect to mention that school numbers are higher than ever and so is the cost per pupil.

You only have to listen to those on the frontline, the teachers, to realise how bad it is.

It appears schools have managed to get by – just – over the last few years. But matters are now coming to a head.

There is no doubt that this year we will see redundancies and strike action as a result.

The Government must step in before it is too late. Clearly the current funding model is not working and those in Westminster – with the input of teachers and headteachers – must work to find a solution.

Our schools are too important to neglect. School funding should be top of the agenda for the Government voted in on June 8.