News


‘Nothing but the best’ at school rated outstanding


A SCHOOL in Maidstone for children with special needs has been rated outstanding by Ofsted inspectors. The inspection report praises


Five Acre Wood School’s “out- standing academic and personal outcomes for pupils” and a princi- pal and governors who believe that “nothing but the best will do”. Teaching was judged to be “typ-


ically outstanding across the school”, with pupils “so well- behaved because teaching makes learning enjoyable”. Five Acre Wood caters for chil-


dren and young people with pro- found, severe and complex learning difficulties, including autistic spectrum disorder. The school is based over three


sites in Maidstone, with the main site on Boughton Lane in Loose. Two sixth-form classes and one key stage 4 class are based at Aylesford School Sports College, and there is a satellite provision at East Borough Primary School for up to 15 key stage two pupils. The report highlights that “the


Coaching for


GP practices GP PRACTICES in Maidstone and West Kent are being offered coach- ing to improve their skills and knowledge in specific areas. The GP-led West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) agreed to reimburse practices par- ticipating in “clinical microsys- tems”, successfully introduced in other parts of the world. It aims to ensure patients receive


“the right care in the right place with the right skills the first time”. Nine West Kent practices are at


various stages of progress and six more await the availability of coaches being trained by the CCG. Classes will cover topics such as diabetes, mental health, learning difficulties, cancers and pharmacy.


999 funding


THE ambulance service is still fail- ing to reach key emergency targets and theCCGagreed to add £600,000 to its budget aimed at increasing ac- tivity and improving the service. Payments are made by results.


One aim of theCCGis to reduce the number of conveyances to hospitals and involves strengthened relation- ships between paramedics and GPs.


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Maidstone East June 2015


Pupils from Five AcreWood school celebrate after the school achieved an outstanding Ofsted rating


school very effectively tailors the range of learning activities that it offers pupils in each phase in order to meet their specific needs” and that “pupils’ behaviour and atti- tudes are excellent”. Principal Peggy Murphy said: “I


am delighted that the hard work and dedication that is consistently demonstrated by all of the staff, governors, parents and pupils has been verified by Ofsted. “As a school, we remain deter-


mined to continue to provide the highest quality provision to meet the needs of our amazing pupils.”


Nursery praise TINY Tots Nursery School in Manor Rise, Bearsted has main- tained its good Ofsted rating. The inspector found that chil-


dren felt welcome because they were greeted by staff with smiles. They were well-behaved and


eager to comply with staff re- quests. Staff regularly reminded children about safety. Parents were very involved with


the children’s learning. Safeguard- ing procedures were good and staff knew how to protect children. The inspector suggested chil-


dren could have more choice about when to play outside.


Plan aims to improve services at hospital


MAIDSTONE and TunbridgeWells NHS Trust says it is making good progress on an improvement plan for its two hospitals after a critical re- port by the Care Quality Commis- sion said it required improvement. In the report earlier this year, the


trust was given good ratings in 29 areas, 43 areas required improve- ment and sixwere inadequate. It said that although it“was disap- pointed with the overall results, the report has been welcomed and will be used to drive quality improve- ments throughout the organisation and improve services to patients.” It added: “The trust ispleased that


the caring domain was rated good throughout the trust and also with the recognition of our caring and compassionate staff.” The trust said key areas of the im-


provement plan included:  Critical care – the consultant rota has been reviewed and amended to


improve cover of critical care at weekends. There has been success- ful recruitment to the critical care outreach team and privacy and dig- nity issues in intensive care have been addressed through improved bathroom facilities.  Contracted security staff train- ing – there has been significant work in achieving the required standards of training for security staff to ensure they have the appropriate knowl- edge and skills to work safely with vulnerable patients with a range of physical and mental ill health needs.  Clinical governance framework – a comprehensive review of gover- nance has started, along with work to improve reporting and learning from incidents through a single re- porting system. This work will con- tribute to improved management of risks, enhanced patient safety and a system of clinical governance that is “clear, consistent and effective”.


Patient groups ‘need GP involvement’


THE importance of GP representation at meetings of the fast-evolving Practice Patient Groups (PPGs) was emphasised at a meeting of the GP- ledWest Kent Clinical Commissioning Group. Apublic questioner said groupswere being asked to complete returns


that required contact with and information from patients not available to them. Feedback from patients is seen as important and this will be dis- cussed at a PPG development meeting.


downsmail.co.uk Choir sings


the classics INDEPENDENCE Day in Maid- stone will get a rousing send-off when Maidstone Choral Union unites in song on July 4. Carmina Burana, a firm favourite


with audiences and an important part of classic repertoire, will be pre- sented by the choir at All Saints’ Church. The choir will also be singing a selection of American songs to mark Independence Day. The concert starts at 7.30pm and


tickets are £12 (half price for stu- dents) from Freda Crispin, 01622 726193 or send an email to freda@me169lb.fsnet.co.uk. They will also be available on the door and, from June 6, from Maidstone Museum Visitors’ Centre.


Midsummer music


THERE is an opportunity to enjoy music at the United Reformed Church in Maidstone. Concerts lined up include Bel


Canto, with bass-baritone Brian White and soprano Kathryn Nor- man, on June 3; The Tamarisk String Quartet’s rags and tangos on June 10; tenor Martin Hindmarsh and mezzo soprano JenniferWestwood on June 17 and Maidstone Grammar School on June 24. The church in Week Street opens at 12.30pm and admission is free.


Vicar recovers following fall


REV Nigel Fry is recovering at his new home in Lenham after being rushed to hospital the week before his final sermon as the vicar of Leeds, Hollingbourne and Hucking. Mr Fry, who was due to retire on


April 12, fell down the stairs at the vicarage in Hollingbourne, cracking two ribs and his collar bone. After being rushed to hospital in Ashford it became clear that Mr Fry had also suffered a brain haemor- rhage. Churchwarden Brian Hardy said: “After making an amazing re- covery following an operation at King’s College Hospital in London, Nigel is at home and happily receiv- ing visitors. “He is tuning in to the radio and


theTV, although he is unable to read at the present time, butwe are hope- ful and confident that he will con- tinue to improve. His family are taking care of his needs and visiting their mother Jan who is in Maid- stone Hospital at the moment.”


Chair re-elected


DR Bob Bowes (Tunbridge Wells) was re-elected for a three-year term as chairman of West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group. Dr Stefano Santini (Coxheath)


has been selected to fill a vacancy and is now one of 12 GPs on the governing body.


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