As a father of two young daughters, I am acutely aware of the difficulties faced by parents and children. I know that a good education can act as a foundation stone for the rest of a young person’s life, that’s why I have continually pushed for better schooling and more action on literacy in Parliament. We must make sure that our nursery, primary, and secondary schools are fit for purpose and work with parents to provide the best education possible.
Schooling is, however, only one part of our children’s lives. All young people, of every age, deserve a safe, well-run place to play and grow and I am determined to make sure that every young person in Rother Valley has the space and opportunities to learn and develop outside of school also.
My Plan:
- Make sure that all local children can go to local schools – including requiring the council to install temporary classrooms if needed, just as I have done previously.
- Proper playgrounds in every village - I want to make sure that every child, wherever they live in Rother Valley, is within safe walking distance of a properly maintained playground.
- Foster open and honest dialogue between schools and parents – learning is a joint endeavour, and we must make sure parents have a say in their child’s education.
- Better access to dentists and other health services for children – ensuring that all our children grow up happy and healthy.
- Youth clubs for every town and village – bringing back these spaces for young people to feel welcomed by the community as well as keeping them off the streets.