As a Member of Parliament I can think of nothing that continues to give me more satisfactiion than visiting the schools in my constituency, meeting the staff and talking to the children.

I was a teacher before entering politics - something which always startles the schoolchildren that I meet - and I cannot stress too much to them the importance of their education and the opportunities that it opens up . This is why, whenever I am asked on my regular school visits which I believe to be the greatest acheivements of the Labour Government I always focus on the provision of nursery places for 3 and 4 year olds.

I try to visit as many schools as possible, and  I recently attended the International Day at St Margart's Lee C of E school. This is always a wonderful event - when the families of the children create an international festival celebrating their ethnic backgrounds with food, exhibitions and beautiful costumes.

Last week I went to the launch in Portcullis House by The Citizenship Foundation of "Go-Givers" which is a free online resource for Primary Schools featuring the animated characters, the "Go-Givers". It helps primary-age chidren to explore many of the issues that are dealt with in their Citizenship curriculum, and to understand what it means to be part of a caring society. Children from Lewisham's St Saviour's Primary School were at the event, and I was very pleased to welcome them to Parliament.

Concern for the welfare of others lies at the heart of any civilised and caring society, and primary school is often the time when children first learn what it means to put the needs of others alongside their own.