News


downsmail.co.uk Award for determined athlete


JUST looking at the activities of Maidstone sportswoman Emma Tuck is enough to wear you out. The 17-year-old from Invicta Grammar School plays netball on Mondays, is on the trampoline three nights a week, dances tap, modern, contemporary and hip- hop three times aweek and has just completed her UKCC Level 1 coaching courses in trampoline and netball. What’s even more remarkable is


that the seemingly-inexhaustible teenager from East Farleigh is only just coming back into form after an- terior cruciate ligament reconstruc-


Pre-school’s


good report APRIVATE pre-school that opened on a new estate inWest Malling last year has been praised by an Ofsted inspector. Pippins, which runs a week-day nursery for 23 youngsters at the Community Centre in Leybourne Chase, was given a good rating, after an inspector spoke to parents, youngsters and carers and even joined them on awalk. Her report noted that the pre-


school provided a safe, stimulating and welcoming place for children, with plenty of opportunities to play and explore, through adult-led and child-initiated, exciting activities. She added that youngsters bene-


fited from being outside and were encouraged by staff to speak about how they felt and to develop their independence. The report concluded: “All chil-


dren demonstrate very good be- haviour. They are kind to friends and eager to, for example, help staff set up activities. “They respond to staff politely


and staff use good manners consis- tently when talking to each other and the children. This means that children communicate positively, sharing with one another and tak- ing turns.” The inspector suggested staff


could present further opportunities for children to learn more about the world around them, with, for ex- ample, positive images of those with disabilities, as a way the pre- school could improve further.


Mayor’s concert


THE Mayor of Maidstone’s charity concert will take place in the Town Hall, starting at 7.30pm, on Wednesday, May 7. Energize Community Choir will


sing a varied programme of songs, from spirituals to shows. Tickets are £5, from the Town Hall or on the door, or call 01622 764063. Pro- ceeds will go to Mind and Mencap.


32 Malling March 2014


tive surgery. She said: “After two years out of


full time national training, I started again on the trampoline and am now back full time and I’m nearly back to the level I was before my injury.” Emma


(left) now trains three to


five


nights aweek at Jumpers Rebound Centre. So it came as no surprise to


classmates when shewas presented with the Outstanding Personal Achievement award at the town’s Active Maidstone awards cere- mony.


Emma said: “When my name


was read out as the winner, I was overwhelmed.” Emma plays for Pennies Vespers netball team, which is currently top of the MMNL league’s Division 3. She will be competing in the Na- tional Schools Trampoline Champi- onship at Gateshead on March 22 and has just passed her intermedi- ate tap exam with distinction. She said: “I train at Maidstone


Dance Studios and also help run a junior hip hop crew. I have also re- cently got into a new hip hop crew myself, and we will be performing at R’enc Arts Hip Hop Festival in Brittany in April.” So where does she get her moti-


vation and all that energy? She said: “I’ve always loved tak-


ing part in sport and physical ac- tivity and have always been very competitive. “I get a buzz from performing


and being in a competitive situa- tion. I hope that sport will carry on to be a part of my life in years to come.”


Patients happy with care at


Voices raised to help hospice


MAIDSTONE Riverside Rotary’s 100 Voices choir concert raised more than £2,000 for the Demelza children’s hospice. Club members were given a tour of the hospice, in Sittingbourne, which supports more than 800 families and gives respite care to children with life-threatening illnesses. Club presidentMike Springett said: “We are delighted to be able to help


provide funds to enable the hospice to continue the amazing work it does.” He is pictured presenting a cheque for £2,100 to Hannah Shotton, Demelza’s community fundraiser.


Appeal to former pupils


ST SIMON Stock School in Maid- stone is looking for former students who would like to support pupils studying at the school. The school in Oakwood Park is


one of more than 500 across Britain which have registered with the charity Future First to set up net- works of ex-pupils. More than 50,000 former stu-


dents across Britain have already signed up to stay connected with their old school. They are inspiring young people in a number ofways; as career and education role mod- els, mentors or e-mentors,work ex- perience providers, governors, donors or fundraisers.


Careers coordinator Terry May


said:“We strive to develop our stu- dents in everyway, which includes their career aspirations. Getting people to talk to our students may not be difficult, but finding some- one they can relate to can be. “If the pupils here can get first-


hand experience and an insight into the world of work from people who studied at the same school, it can surely only make them better prepared for their future.” Former pupils whowould like to


be part of the Future First pro- gramme can contact Terry on mayt@ssscs.co.uk or sign up on the websitewww.futurefirst.org.uk .


Classroom plan for playground


ANEWteaching block could be built on a recreation area at Oakwood Park Grammar School. A planning application has been submitted to replace two “sub- standard” temporary classroom blocks, which will be removed. A new hard play area is also proposed for the school, in Oakwood Park, Tonbridge Road, Maidstone. Asupporting statement said: “Building will require the removal of


some young trees. However, these offer little in the way of visual or ecological value.” Maidstone Council will determine the application.


BMI hospital THE BMI The Somerfield Hospital in Maidstone has been given a clean bill of health, following an in- dependent survey of patients in 2013. The hospital received an overall satisfaction score of 96.8% in the annual patient survey, rating over- all quality of care as either excellent or very good. The survey, conducted and analysed by market research com- pany Quality Health, was carried out throughout last year, and was based on a sample of at least 808 patients completing a question- naire. The survey measured patient sat- isfaction across a broad range of criteria, including patients’ overall impression of admission, consult- ant care, imaging (X-ray) anaes- thetists,


theatre staff,


accommodation and whether pa- tientswere treated with respect and dignity. The overall impression of nurs-


ing care received a rating of 96.75%, whilst overall impression of con- sultant surgeons or physicians re- ceived a rating of 98.5%. BMI The Somerfield Hospital employs 170 people and works with 130 consultants. “Its specialties are orthopaedics, general surgery, gynaecology and ophthalmology Connie Stocker, executive direc-


tor at BMI The Somerfield Hospital, said:“We are delighted that our pa- tients have rated us so highly. The team here are very dedicated to providing our patients with high standards of care, and the survey shows our patients are particularly appreciative of their efforts. “We are all very proud of our hospital; everyone here goes above and beyond to ensure patients are our priority,working hard to make each patient’s time with us as com- fortable as possible.”


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