THERE is never enough money to go around.

Ask the NHS, the police, the Army, charities. All will explain how tough it is to make ends meet, to keep swimming against the fiscal tide.

But of all the public services struggling, perhaps schools have been hit the worst.

The Government says (robotically) it has increased funding by three per cent.

But that does not take into account the increase in inflation, pension and national insurance contributions.

Wipe away the hype and it means in real terms schools have less funding at a time when the population is rising and costs are increasing.

So how do head teachers square that circle? By making cuts to staff, by postponing building repairs, by cutting back on equipment.

Teachers are already facing a tough time. About one in five teachers expect to leave the classroom in less than two years while two-fifths of teachers, school leaders and support staff want to quit in the next five years blaming out of control workload pressures and excessive accountability.

Add to that a reduction in support staff and equipment and you have an apocalyptic scenario.

And who will suffer?

In the end, it will be the children who are not getting the support or the opportunities they deserve.

We have to shout loudly now to ensure sufficient money is allocated to schools in the forthcoming autumn statement to ensure the financial squeeze stops now...before the rot sets in.