TRINITY Pre-School in Vinters Road, Maidstone, has been praised by Ofsted for being “in- clusive, well resourced and well organised”. The school, which has been


on the East Borough School site for nine years, was given a “good” rating for the effective- ness of its early years provision.


‘Well organised’ pre-school gets good Ofsted rating Inspector Robina Tomes, who


visited in September, said that children made good progress, were safe and secure and en- joyed learning and exploring in their stimulating environment. She considered that the part- nerships with parents, the local school and other agencies were a key strength.


Her report said children arrive eagerly at the pre-school where they are welcomed and use their name cards for self-regis- tration to support the develop- ment of their literacy skills. Then they happily choose one


of the activities set out in the “clean, well-organised and at- tractively resourced areas”.


The pre-school is run by a manager and six staff and a maximum of 36 children attend at any one time. “Comments like ‘brilliant’ and ‘couldn’t ask for anywhere bet- ter’ are an indication of the overwhelming positive views from parents about the pre- school”, said the report.


It’s a big night for Duke’s Award winners


A COUPLE who had played a major role in helping girls through the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme returned to Maidstone to see the fruits of their labours. Ges and Jane Cocker were at the annual presentation evening to see dozens of teenagers receive their certificates. The Cockers moved to Canterbury last


year but had previously played a big part in the gold and silver awards picked up by Maidstone Grammar School for Girls. The school’s new unit leader is teacher Emma Rein.


Invicta Grammar Schools also has a new


leader, Lisa Clarke. “She has made a mas- sive difference,” said Maidstone’s DofE field officer Elaine Gladwell.Atotal of 43 Invicta pupils received bronze awards. Overall, 12 golds, 37 silvers and 106 bronzes were awarded this year. Maidstone DofE panel chair Dave Morse


was delighted with the commitment shown by all the participants. He said: “It is a real joy to see so many young people achieving at all three levels of the award. Having com- pleted all levels myself and having a daugh- ter who is working towards her gold, I can appreciate how much effort, determination and commitment they have shown.” Kent deputy lieutenant Bill Cockcroft


made the presentations at Maplesden Noakes School. Guests included the Mayor and Mayoress of Maidstone, Cllr Eric and Janet Hotson, and John Turner, assistant head of Kent Youth Service (West Kent).


Bronze Maplesden Noakes School Natasha Austen-White, Christopher


Bury, Melody Carpenter, Owen Hamer, Connor Standen, JamesWatson,


Invicta Grammar School Ella Baxter, Emily Buckland, Lucy Car- penter, Emma Carter, Lauren Carter, Megan Carter, Emily Chadwick, Suzanne Chap- man, Lily Chiffey, Fatema Chowdhury, Emily Cooper, Rebecca Cooper, Laura Coveney, Josie Crew, Elise Cunningham, Hannah Darby, Phillipa Dodd, Charlotte


Kent deputy lieutenant Bill Cockcroft with Tara Andrew, left, and Phillippa Wilson, two of the 10 gold award winners from Maidstone Grammar School for Girls. It was the only school to collect awards in all three categories, gold, sil- ver and bronze.


Duggan, Megan Fisher, Jemima Frankel, Ashleigh Gill, Farah Ginai, Anna Had- delsey, Claire Harmer, Jessica Hart, Jessica Humphrey, Abigail Jones, Connie Laidlaw, Jessica Langford, Vanessa Lee, Katharine Li, Christina Mo, Danielle Moore, Hannah Murray, Karishma Nagar, Sarah Newman, Himaya Patel, Rachel Ranaldi, Jessica Rip- pon, Mona Sherchan, Victoria Spinks, StephanieWentzel, ChenxianWu


Maidstone Grammar School Ben Barnes, Tom Cosgrove, James Lock,


Ryan McDonald, James O’Connell, JonathanWarman, MatthewWeaver, NathanWright


Oakwood Park Grammar School Bapanna Bhamidimarri, Thomas Craig,


Sam Gibbons, Ryan Gibson, Joseph Oakley, Alvin Parris, AndrewWatkin, Daniel White


Maidstone Grammar School for Girls Eleonor Arbury, Jessica Bowden, Re-


becca Brenton, Ashleigh Brooks, Summer Connolley, Sophie Farrow, Ellie Fryer,


MAIDSTONE Voluntary Transport is urgently seeking new volunteer drivers to help people the elderly, ill, frail, disabled or housebound. Jobs would include transport to and from hos-


pital, doctors, clinic or other appointments, or just to do their shopping or go to the hair- dressers.


Amber Gilbert, Lucy Hagger, Amelia Hen- derson, Nina Hill, Grace Houghton, Poppy Jeffery, Molly Jennings, Hollie Kingsland, Joelle Laming, Charlotte Martin, Hazel Maynard, Sally McConchie, Megan McLoone, Elizabeth Mellor, Helen Oakes, Lucy O’Callaghan, Felicia Oduntan, Megan Payne, Adelle Pilfold, Gemma Rogers, Rebecca Sampson, Sophie Satch- well, Georgina Schulz, Catherine Smeaton, Alice Smith, Hannah Spong, Chloe Stevens, Iona Turner, Francesca Under- down, KirstyWaterman, Anne-Marie Wright


Valley ParkCommunity School Harvey Mason, Samantha Neale, Sophie


Tompsett,


Swadelands School / Lenham Youth Cen- tre


Freddy Denne, Claire Foster, Katrina Phipps, Paige Rye


Silver Maidstone Grammar School for Girls Kerry Alton, Ashleigh Brooks, Sophie Bulimore, Penny Burrows, Alicia Clark, Rebecca Craig, Althea Dove, Rachel Farrer, Megan Grant, Laura Hayton, Claudia Hogan, Grace Houghton, Emily Jordan, Sarah Judd, Georgia Leader, Lucy Mullins, Rebecca Mullins, Emma Owen, Ayesha Parmar, Adelle Pilfold, Stephanie Rout, Nicole Russell, Emily Rutland, Madeleine Ryan, Rebecca Sampson, Yashna Smart, Jessica Stockton, Bethan Sweeting, Natalie Talukder, Chloe Thompson, Marianne Thompson, Bethany Vaughan, Beth Venis, IsabelleWarren, ZoeWarren, EmilyWel- fare, EleanorWright


Gold


Maidstone Grammar School for Girls Tara Andrew, Jessie Derrick, Donna Ha-


green, Stacey Hagreen, Rebecca Jensen, Aseel Karam, Georgia Mannering, Laura Strachan, PhillippaWilson, MeganWon- nacott,


Maidstone Grammar School John Francis, James Mathieson.


Volunteers needed to drive the disabled Vodafone submits new mast request


Sue Towns Okorodudu, chief executive offi-


cer for the charity, said: “You’ll use your own car to collect the person from their home and take them to their appointment. “If they are likely to be less than an hour,


you’ll wait and take them home, otherwise, you’ll collect them by arrangement.


Sheds can stay – caravans must go


MICHELLE Richards has been given permission to retain a poly- tunnel, seven shed buildings, and fencing inWoodside Farm, off Old Ham Lane, Lenham. Maidstone Council posted an enforcement notice in July order-


ing Ms Richards to remove the structures, which she claimed were necessary for her to run a poultry business. The planning inspec- tor overturned this decision, claiming they did not constitute a great degree of harm to the open countryside. However, he upheld Maidstone Council’s enforcement notice demanding the removal of two mobile homes, a timber utility room and toilet.


“Your expenses are covered


so you won’t be out of pocket from giving your time.” The role would be very flexible as each trip is booked individually. Info: 01622 756662 or email


vo lunteers @ va m- online.org.uk. Maidstone Voluntary Transport is a serv- ice of Voluntary Action Maid- stone.


MOBILE phone company Vodafone has made another application to in- stall a 13.8m-high monopole in Senacre. In May last year, it backtracked


on erecting the equipment, which included two Vodafone and two O2 antennas and a radio equipment cabinet, because of complaints from residents and the headteacher of SenacreWood Primary School. They had health concerns as its


location, on the junction of Wool- ley Road and Senacre Square, was next to the school. The latest plan would see the equipment sited slightly further away, on the east side ofWoolley Road.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk East 21


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