I pressed the Schools Minister Nick Gibb for funding for a new special school and a new primary school for Maidstone.
The Chancellor committed £320 million for 140 new free schools – on top of the 500 new schools the Government has already pledged to open by 2020 – in the Spring Budget. I want some of that money to go to Maidstone.
I told the Minister that the situation is urgent, and children – including those with special needs – could miss out on a suitable school place unless we get these new schools open by September next year.
I’m confident that the message has been heard. With a new wave of free schools due to be announced any minute, I’m hopeful that we’ll get some good news. That won’t mean we can all relax however, as the clock is ticking to have new schools built and ready to open in September 2018.
