News story

2nd April 2001

MP visits theatre school

Northavon MP Steve Webb has taken up an invitation to meet the next generation of performing arts stars at the Stagecoach Theatre Arts School. The School, which operates across the country, holds classes at Elm Park Primary School at Winterbourne on a Saturday afternoon, and Steve Webb recently paid a visit. On his visit he saw children from pre-school up to mid teenagers taking great pleasure in a wide range of activities from singing and dancing to acting.

The MP had been in correspondence with the School about Government regulations which could threaten groups such as Stagecoach. These regulations were primarily aimed at tightening up rules relating to children of infant school age, but there was a fear that groups such as Stagecoach would have to apply the rules even to classes of teenagers simply because some of their children are in the youngest age groups. Steve Webb took up these concerns with the Minister, Margaret Hodge, and it is hoped that there will now be changes before they are implemented in September which will allow Stagecoach to continue their work.

Commenting on his visit, Steve Webb said:

“It was a great pleasure to see what goes on at Stagecoach on a Saturday afternoon, and to see how much the children and young people were clearly enjoying themselves. I fully support regulations designed to improve protection for children, but it is important that they recognise the special needs of schools which cater for such a wide age range of children. Although only a few can ever become stars of stage and screen, every child has the potential to benefit from this sort of provision, and I hope that it goes on from strength to strength.”

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Note to editors: Photo (available by e-mail) shows Stagecoach Principal Di Noden-Wilkinson and Steve Webb MP with youngsters in their Stagecoach uniforms rehearsing their stage skills.