More snacks and longer lunch breaks
A longer lunch break and extra snacks - it’s a return to school but not as we know it. As children across Kent returned to classrooms on Monday after the longest Christmas break in history, the head teacher of Tiger Primary in Loose, Maidstone, spoke of how the school had been preparing to welcome children back. Hayley King is delighted to have pupils in face-to-face lessons again and thinks it is the right time to return, but says it will take time for children to reacquaint themselves with more traditional learning. They’ll be back in uniform and sat at desks next to classmates as opposed to wearing comfortable clothes while working from their sofas. As a result staff at the school have spent the past weeks devising a re-structured day and altered curriculum in order to ease youngsters in. “Lunch will be slightly longer,” she explained, “and parents have been asked to send a few snacks in and we’ve stocked up on milk and fruit as they will be used to eating at different times.”
There will be a focus on language-based study to boost communication skills in recognition of the fact for many, some as young as four, have not interacted with their friends face to face for weeks.
She said: “Language-rich study is essential. They need to reacquaint themselves with verbal and communication skills. “It’s four weeks until Easter and that’s a good amount of time to ease them back in. That also gives us two weeks to assess any impact opening schools has had during the holidays.”
A school’s first community charity art auction raised in excess of £10,000 for Dementia UK.
The virtual auction for Valley Park School in Maidstone saw more than 180 bid for 60 pieces created by the Valley Park Art scholars, as well as works by professionals Mr Doodle and Jack Durling.
Items were able to be viewed in advance on the school website. Event organisers, assistant headteacher Gemma Lowe and head of art Jasmine Hider, had set a fundraising target of £1,000, so they were thrilled with the event on Thursday.
“It was so wonderful to see our parents, students, staff, the wider community, friends and family coming together to support our charity Decaf (Dementia Cafe) - Dementia UK,” said headteacher Margaret Hutchinson.
Three teenagers, including a 13-year-old boy, were arrested after a delivery man was assaulted while dropping off a food order.
A robbery was reported to have taken place in Wharf Road, Maidstone, on Sunday, February 28, between 7pm and 7.20pm.
A man in his 20s was pushing a bike across a bridge while delivering food when he said he was approached by four people from behind and assaulted.
It is understood the suspects stole a bag and then dropped it nearby, before leaving empty-handed.
The victim later went to hospital for treatment to injuries he sustained in the attack.
A police spokesman said: “Three boys, aged 16, 15 and 13, were arrested in connection with the incident and were later bailed to return to the police station on March 15, pending further enquiries. “Any witnesses who have not yet spoken to the police or anyone who has information that may assist the investigation, is urged to call Kent Police on 01622 604100, quoting reference 46/33420/21.”
A council has approved detailed designs for a new mixed-use business park near Maidstone. The £47m scheme, called Woodcut Farm, will deliver a range of modern, sustainable buildings in a landscaped setting with the potential “to create up to 1,200 new jobs” according to the developers.
The site is located on the Ashford Road, just off Junction 8 of the M20.
Nick Berry, a partner with Clearbell Capital LLP and the development manager for the site, said: “The decision will enable us to commence delivery of a first class business park and the associated investment and job creation opportunities.”
All the buildings on the site will be provided with electric vehicle charging points for cars and commercial vehicles. Work is due to start this year. Clearbell Capital LLP is an independently-owned private equity real estate fund management and advisory business. The site has been subject to protests over the loss of countryside, since plans first emerged several years ago.
Maidstone council granted outline permission for the scheme in December 2017, but the Campaign to Protect Rural England sought permission for a Judicial Review of this decision. It was later turned down.
A music festival will go ahead this summer - albeit a week late - following the gradual lifting of Covid restrictions.
The Black Deer Festival in Eridge Park, Tunbridge Wells, is now scheduled for June 25 to 27. This means it begins four days after the last stage of the easing of restrictions, when major events can go ahead and life is set to return to something resembling normality.
The 2021 American and country music festival was originally booked for June 18 to 20.
The organisers announced on Twitter: “We have taken this decision with the intention of delivering you one hell of a (safe) party.
“We all need it, hey?”
The Black Deer Festival’s co-founders Gill Tee and Deborah Shilling said they were pushing ‘full-steam ahead’ to have the event for 2021, which is open to 20,000 ticket holders.