Amanda Taylor

News and views about Cambridge and Cambridgeshire politics, especially Queen Edith's Learn more

Archive for the ‘Education’ Category

Free school meals

by admin on 15 April, 2020

During these difficult and uncertain times, many families are facing changed circumstances, including financial ones. If you have children, it is possible they may be entitled to free school meals. Applying for free school meals not only fulfils the obvious benefit but it also means your child’s school receives pupil premium funding, extra money for […]

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Library computer charges crash

by admin on 6 September, 2018

The Conservatives’ decision to charge people for using library computers has been a complete failure. Computer use is down 55% in Cambridgeshire’s libraries and the charging scheme has raised £4000 against a prediction of £50,000. The Liberal Democrats and thousands of residents (see our petition) opposed the charges, saying it would both put people off […]

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Liberal Democrats in Cambridgeshire have launched a campaign to protect free use of computers at libraries. County councillors last week considered a package of measures for the future of the library service, building on workshops with the public and library campaigners as well as with councillors. The measures included several sensible initiatives, such as improving […]

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Conservative councillors have voted en bloc to close 19 children’s centres across the county, including Homerton, Romsey Mill and Cherry Hinton in this area. The decision has been met with widespread dismay from parents concerned about the loss of vital services, including post-natal care, parenting classes and work with troubled families – all for a […]

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The councillor who chairs the Cambridgeshire County Council Children and Young People Committee, Simon Bywater, has announced that the debate on the children’s centre closures will be pulled from the 10th October committee meeting, and will instead be on the agenda of the full council meeting on 17th October. This means all county councillors will […]

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With other Lib Dem councillors, I have been running a campaign challenging  the County Council’s proposals to ‘redesignate’ (close) 19 children’s centres, including Homerton in Holbrook Road, whose services would be moved to the Central Library in the city centre — costly for families in terms of time and money. Other centres on the hit […]

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More children’s centre drop-in events

by admin on 9 August, 2017

Following pressure from a number of concerned councillors and campaigners, the county council has announced eight more drop-in sessions about the proposals to close 19 children’s centres. The times should also be better for many working parents too. Here is an updated list of events with the new ones shown in bold. Tuesday 15th August, […]

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Children’s centres consultation

by admin on 19 July, 2017

Many thanks to everybody who’s signed our petition opposing the  County Council’s theats of cuts to children’s centres. It’s grown like wildfire since we launched it last Monday; this shows just how much the children’s centres and services are valued, not just by the people who use them but by the whole community. There are […]

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Conservative councillors have today voted in favour of going ahead with a consultation to close 19 children’s centres, including Homerton Children’s Centre in Holbrook Road. The centres themselves were only told last Tuesday, just as a public consultation is about to start. In Cambridge, the Tories will also close children’s centres at Romsey Mill, Fawcett, […]

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Meet the Candidates: St John the Evangelist

by admin on 19 April, 2017

Amidst all the excitement of an impending General Election and a metro mayor election, I am working hard defending my county council seat. Elections take place on 4th May. Tomorrow night, Thursday 20th April, I shall be at St John’s Church for the Queen Edith’s Community Forum’s hustings for the county council elections, along with […]

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