Two schools in Theresa May's Maidenhead constituency write to parents to ask £190 for 'pens and paper'

The letter states that funding cuts have left the schools unable to provide basic supplies

Schools in Theresa May's constituency have requested £190 from parents for pens and pencils (AFP/Getty)

A primary school in Theresa May’s Maidenhead constituency has written letters to parents asking for £190 a day for “pens, pencils, exercise books and paper.”

Both the infants and junior schools at the Robert Piggott Church of England School have written to parents, making clear in their letter that the school is facing major shortfalls after “changed to school funding” meant ‘voluntary’ donations were required to cover the shortfall.

The letter states: "One of the elements of (the funding plan) was to ask parents and the community to consider making donations to help meet the predicted shortfall in funding.

"Therefore, like many other schools, we are now requesting voluntary contributions from parents."

At Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn raised the growing crisis in school funding, citing a letter sent to Chancellor Philip Hammond this week from 5,000 headteachers, asking for funding cuts to be returned.

The letter continues: "Following discussion with the PTA (parent teacher association) and based on feedback at the May meeting, we would like to suggest that parents donate £1 per school day for each child to help the schools through this funding crisis.

"This equates to £190 per year."

The letter, signed by chair of governors Caroline Meader, also includes a voluntary donation form if parents wish to donate through Gift Aid.

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner told the Daily Mirror: "The Government can spin all they like but the reality is that Tory cuts are hitting schools badly, even in the PM's own constituency.

"Heads are so desperate they are begging parents for the cash they need to keep teaching kids.

"Theresa May was elected to represent -Maidenhead on a manifesto that guaranteed to protect school funding but she can't even keep promises to her own voters let alone the rest of the country."

Education Secretary Justine Greening has recently claimed that an extra £1.3 billion will be found for England's schools from existing budgets, and pledged a new “funding formula.”