The record of the Conservative Council on the provision of services for children and young people, Medway’s most precious asset, is poor. The Conservatives slashed support for families by closing Sure Start children’s centres.

They arrogantly dismissed the concerns of parents at Abbey Court Special School who were simply worried about the future of their children.

They allowed administrative mayhem in notifying the results of the Medway Test.

They caused chaos and misery in their hurried cost-cutting reorganisation of the Special Needs transport budget.

Conservative Medway has a poor record in recruiting social workers, in inspections of our social care and our special needs provision.

Medway’s Conservatives have shown they are complacent, out of touch and that they simply don’t listen.

Under the Conservatives, educational standards for our 11-year-olds were the worst in the country and progress to improve those standards has been slow. Medway’s young people deserve better than the Conservatives’ dismal record.

• Work to reverse the 100,000 decline in the number of Sure Start Centre visits by local families
• Accelerate school improvement by placing school leaders at the heart of policy making, by forging strong links with local maintained schools and academies and by developing a culture that encourages co-operation and collaboration for the benefit of all of Medway’s young people
• Ensure that young people and their families, whether they need social care or health information, whether they have special needs or mental health issues, have the services, support and consideration they are entitled to
• Care for our young people, value them and we will ensure they fulfil their potential, creating a better future for them and for Medway