Kent County Council confirmed last week that all of the children’s centres in Shepway are to remain open, following their consultation on the future of this service. This is excellent news for the three centres which had been threatened with closure; Folkestone Early Years, The Village in Folkestone and New Romney. I believe that this […]
The greatest investment we can make in the future of our community is in the quality of education we provide for our young people. The creation of a new Academy school in Folkestone providing an integrated education for students aged from 3 to 18 is a statement to the ambition people have for the town […]
Maria Miller, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, invited me to speak to the Conservative Party conference in Manchester this week about our work in Folkestone to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War in 2014. The government rightly recognises that this anniversary is an important time for […]
On Tuesday I visited the children’s centre in New Romney with Cllr Jenny Whittle, the cabinet member for children’s services on Kent County Council. We were met by the manager Sandi Mortimer, and had the chance to discuss its work with the parents who use it. I’d asked Jenny Whittle to join me in visiting […]
For many families the arrival of September is a very important time of the year. Hundreds of children will be having their much anticipated first day at school. For others there will be the transition to the bigger world of secondary school with all its challenges and opportunities. I would like to wish everyone who […]
It was reported this week that I had claimed that young people looking for work should busk to pay for the transport costs to get them to interviews, and that they should also leave school at 16 and work below the minimum wage. This is completely untrue and I have set this out in the […]
On Monday next week M&C Saatchi, one of the world’s leading communications companies will start their two week work training programme in Folkestone. Twelve young people, aged between 18 and 24, including residents from Folkestone, Hythe, Romney Marsh and the North Downs, will be able to participate in the kind of experience that people have […]