Thank you to everyone who came along to my SEND coffee morning last weekend! It was a valuable conversation with parents and carers about the Government’s new SEND proposals, what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to change for families locally.

A really valuable discussion at Nightingale Primary this week on the impact of smartphones and social media on children.

Awesome to join representatives from Space UK at Leytonstone School to talk to year 9 students about the breadth of careers available in the UK space sector – both here in London and not far away in the southeast.

Leytonstone Family Hub is doing fantastic work supporting local families and children - a great example of what a Labour-led council delivers for our community.

It’s important to celebrate World Book Day today. Books can empower and open doors. But data shows that a quarter of boys say they enjoy reading in their free time, compared with 39% of girls, contributing to stark disparities in educational progression.

After visiting Build Academy in Wanstead last week and meeting learners preparing for careers in construction, I took the opportunity to raise their work in Parliament.

he school supports young people with social, emotional and mental health needs, including neurodivergent students. It’s clear the leadership team is working hard to give students the stability and support they need.

It was a really brilliant to visit Build Academy in Wanstead with Minister Chris McDonald for Stockton North and see first-hand how they are equipping our young people with vital construction and maintenance skills.

I had a wonderful time visiting Downsell Primary School in Leyton to present their Silver Rights Respecting School Award, a fantastic recognition of their commitment to children’s rights and wellbeing.

Really lovely to visit Good Shepherd Studios in Leytonstone again and catch up with Danie! From coworking and independent film to youth projects and community events, it’s a really fantastic example of how local spaces can bring people together and support creativity in Leytonstone.

Great to visit another local school in the constituency recently! Thanks to Wanstead Church School for hosting me and another brilliant set of questions from pupils in Key Stage 2.

I met with Creative Engagement Services during a recent patrol - they are piloting a new project to keep children and young people safe on their way to and from school in Waltham Forest by making pupil safety a shared community effort.

Brilliant to round off UK Parliament Week last Friday with visits to George Mitchell and Newport Schools in Leyton. All the pupils I spoke to had brilliant questions and a real enthusiasm to learn more about the work of our Parliament and my role as their MP!

I had a brilliant evening with the 21st EFS Cubs in Aldersbrook as part of UK Parliament Week. The group has been learning about democracy, so they split into parties, created manifestos for how they’d improve the club, and elected spokespeople before holding a vote. I was glad to stay to the end and help count the ballots - and they took the process seriously! Thank you to Georgina and all the leaders for the warm welcome and for the work they do for young people in our comm

A big shoutout to East London Boxing Academy in Leyton, an absolute joy to visit and learn about your work. ELBA is a real community asset and one of the best clubs in London!

Last week, I got to visit our incredible Police Cadets in Redbridge! A group of young people who are already stepping up to serve their community with pride, discipline, and dedication.

It was fantastic to meet staff and pupils at Oakdale Junior School in South Woodford this week! I really enjoyed this opportunity to speak to the school at their assembly about the importance of remembrance and take questions from the children, as well as joining in celebrating their achievements.