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.

We desperately need more school places in and around Maidstone. Some primary school children are already having to travel miles, and the situation is only going to get worse in the next few years.

We are running out of space in local schools. So much for the aspiration for more children to walk to school; some parents are having to drive their children half way round Maidstone to reach their allocated primary school.

9,818 children in my constituency are in good or outstanding schools - an increase of 3,081 since 2010. This means more children are getting the best possible start life and learning the skills they need to flourish.

Every child deserves the chance to go to a good school – and preferably a good school close to home. We have some fantastic local schools but with more school-age children, there’s increasing competition for places.

I'm delighted that Education Secretary Justine Greening has announced an extra £1.3 billion for schools. 

I'm delighted that the Government has approved plans to open two new schools for children in Maidstone.

I am pleased that the Government is committed to providing excellent education opportunities for all our children, no matter where they live or what school they go to.

I pressed the Schools Minister Nick Gibb for funding for a new special school and a new primary school for Maidstone.