SUMMER is one mad dash from place-to-place for MPs trying to keep up with all the fantastic events and activities taking place.

June and July are probably one of the busiest times of the year and that’s usually if any big one-off political events remain quiet.

I was pleased this week to be at Bulmershe School, supporting its citizenship classes, and Maiden Erlegh as part of its open mornings for parents thinking about sending their children to its new school sited in east Reading.

It was pleasing to see so many parents wanting to hear more about the new school but it is really important to see it in the context of the wider educational opportunities in the area.

I think it’s fair to say, five years ago it was quite stagnant educationally and real educational choice was very limited.

With the introduction of the new University Technical College, big investment in Bulmershe, improvements to Reading College and the new ME school on the way there is now a real diversity in the high quality education offering for parents and young people.

It’s the big step up in the quality of offering that really excites me – existing schools have really upped their game and the new schools are challenging the existing order.

I know there has been some opposition to my vision for education in east Reading, but I hope parents can now see how young people will benefit from the huge jump in standards we are seeing. We’re also right into the period of summer fairs and fetes and I’ve been doing my best to get round as many as possible across my constituency over the past three weeks.

I’ve been hugely impressed and inspired by the efforts put into raising money by parents and volunteers – it’s the Big Society in action. Thank you for the wonderful welcomes I have received at Katesgrove, Thameside, The Hill, Woodley Carnival and others – it’s been great fun meeting so many generous and talented people.

Meanwhile, the issue of the location of the Heights Primary School is ongoing. Just to remind those with an interest, I posted the Education Funding Agency information on my website last week. I will be posting the results of my survey of residents’ views later this week and I have been actively trying to bring people together to work out an acceptable solution – which unfortunately will not be easy, particularly with the degree of misinformation being passed around in the area.

I urge anyone who wants to know the actual situation based on the facts to contact me.

The past few weeks have been really enjoyable for me as Reading East’s MP, as it has demonstrated how people can selflessly come together and work together to raise money and help their community from Caversham to Woodley.

The sun is shining on Reading East in so many ways at the moment and long may it continue!