In my constituency rounds it was a delight to pop in to Bincombe Valley School in Littlemoor.  This is a great school that has recovered really well from a fire over a year ago and is about to have achildrens centre open on site.

I was interviewed for the school paper before spending some time in the Nurture Unit that provides an education for some of our most challenging pupils. 

I had some messages to take back to the Department about the importance of bringing professionals like teachers, social workers and health professionals together earlier to address the needs of these children in the round.

On the way to Bincombe I popped in to Tescos in Weymouth to present computer equipment to schools who had saved the shoppers vouchers.

Frome Valley School had saved enough for some new video equipment to go with their new school.  The vouchers needed added up to an extraordinary amount of shopping!

Then on to Weymouth College to brave talking to the A Level students about volunteering.

Last time I'd been there I was struck by how difficult teaching is.  Capturing and keeping the attention of a large number of 16 & 17 year olds is not easy but I enjoyed it all the same.

I decided not to lecture to them but try and challenge their view of volunteering.  Many thought it was "charitable works" like working in a soup klitchen and didn't see themselves doing it.  Whilst some had done this sort of volunteering and enjoyed it, others had been sports helpers, were on the school council, and had helped out in a  number of ways that they hadn't thought of as volunteering.

In all these examples they were helping others but also helping themselves by gaining experiences that make them more employable and attractive to universities.