Geoff Hoon visits Helping Hands Childcare • Fri, 20th June • 

Ashfield MP, Geoff Hoon visited Helping Hands Childcare in Sutton-in-Ashfield to celebrate National Childminding Week with the children and workers.

During the visit Mr Hoon participated in a Grufalo sensory story to the children and met Michael and Alison Clark, childminders at Helping Hands Childcare. The event is part of National Childminding Week 2008, organised by the National Childminding Association (NCMA).

The week runs from Saturday, 14 June, to Saturday, 21 June. This year, to tie in with the National Year of Reading, the theme for National Childminding Week is reading and the role childminders and nannies play in supporting language, literacy and creativity.

Michael and Allison Clark, 'We are delighted that Mr Hoon joined us for our National Childminding Week celebration. At Helping Hands Childminding Service we focus on all the children’s individual needs to give them the best experience possible. We offer full Daycare, After School and School Holiday care.'

Geoff Hoon MP said: 'I was delighted to meet with Michael and Alison and to see the work that they do with these children. The encouragement and development of childrens literacy skills has previously gone unnoticed and I am glad to be able to highlight their efforts today.'

Geoff Hoon Opens New Construction & Logistics Academy • Fri, 6th June • 

On Friday 6th June, over 90 employers from the construction industry, further education funding bodies and private training organisations joined Geoff Hoon Ashfield MP and Chief Whip and college managers in the celebration of the opening of the College's Construction and Logistics Skills Academy based at Station Park, Kirkby-in-Ashfield. The £8m Academy, in operation since March for students is the latest development in the College's exciting plans for its estate.

This vast warehouse was totally transformed into modern, hi-tech and eye catching teaching and assessment centre by local construction firm, Baggaley and Jenkins. The centre provides education and training to some 600 trainees per week.

£4.5m of funding support was received for the development from European and Development Agency funding streams and representatives from the Alliance SSP, East Midlands Development Agency and Government Office for the East Midlands were also present to witness the excellent use of funding to raise skill levels and the aspirations of the local community.

Principal Asha Khemka said: 'Today’s opening ceremony marked another important and significant part of West Nottinghamshire College's growing success. Already there is a tremendous atmosphere amongst our students who clearly love their learning within this superb building. I was proud to welcome construction industry colleagues today to show them the facilities we have developed for the professionals of tomorrow.'

'We are very confident that our new Construction and Logistics Skills Academy will raise the capacity of the College to deliver construction and logistics training at all levels, in this regional skills priority area. The College already has a great reputation with local, regional and national employers and this project will enable us to enhance industry links further and expansion of our higher education curriculum'.

Geoff Hoon MP said: 'I was delighted to open this new facility. This exciting new development will provide young people in Ashfield with the skills to hopefully gain better employment. The co-operation between West Nottinghamshire College and local businesses will mean that the future is very bright for Ashfield. I would like to commend all the hard work done by everyone involved and hope that they enjoy every success in the coming weeks, months and years.'