It’s one of the hardest jobs of the year, but I’m pleased to announce the winner of my annual Christmas card competition.

The winning design is by Luna from Oaks Primary Academy in Maidstone and features a snowman against a blue sky.

I’m pleased the Schools Minister has listened to my request for extra funding for Kent schools.

Every secondary school in Faversham and Mid Kent will now be guaranteed at least £5,000 per pupil with every primary school pupil getting at least £3,750 from central funds.

I visited Maidstone Library on Friday 4 October ahead of this year’s National Libraries Week (7-12 October).

This was my first visit to the Library in my role as Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism – which includes responsibility for libraries and museums.

I visited Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School on 27 September to talk to sixth form politics students about life as an MP and what's going on in Westminster at the moment. 

Schools in Kent will get a share of an extra £14 billion the Government has committed to education funding between now and 2022/23.

Children from Bearsted, Thurnham, Detling and Maidstone desperately need new schools to go to and I'm pleased that an application has gone in for Bearsted Primary and Snowfields Academy. 

Children in Maidstone and Bearsted desperately need two new schools and I’ve fought to get them open as soon as possible - including helping secure funding .

I visited Abbey School at going-home time and it was quite clear that the bridge over the A2 is inadequate. Hundreds of children all need to cross the road at the same time and the bridge is too narrow. Quite apart from the fact that it’s impossible for anyone who can’t manage steps.

Children in Maidstone desperately need a new primary school and a special needs school to open as soon as possible – or there’s a real risk some could have to travel miles across the county every day.

Jack and the Beanstalk is a story about planting magic beans and starting an adventure – it’s a great metaphor for reading. I saw first-hand how books can sow seeds of imagination in children’s minds when I visited Platt’s Heath Primary School a few weeks ago.