An MP was full of praise for a school he visited for BBC Children in Need.

Harlow MP Robert Halfon was invited to Katherines Primary Academy on Friday, where he met with head teacher Annette Norris and Jo Coton, chief executive of NET Academies Trust, which runs the school.

Mr Halfon, who is chairman of the education select committee learned about the education pupils receive, as well as the support provided to pupils of key workers.

Conservative Mr Halfon, who recently voted against his own government on a motion on free school meals, said: "It was wonderful to visit Katherines. I would like to thank the teachers and support staff for all the work that they have done and are doing to keep our children learning during the coronavirus crisis.

"I really appreciated sitting down with the pupils from the school council who asked me a series of questions. It was a pleasure to be able to tell them a bit about the House of Commons, the mice in my office, Big Ben and Winston Churchill's Chair."

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Mr Halfon continued: "Katherines is an example of how much schools in Harlow are doing to provide our children with a good education and they deserve a huge amount of credit. The hard working pupils are second to none and I wish everyone at Katherines good health during this difficult time.

"Once possible, I look forward to inviting the school council members for a tour around Parliament."

Head teacher Ms Norris added: "We were all delighted to meet Mr Halfon and so pleased that he visited. It gave a real boost to everyone at the school and the children asked him some very searching questions."