KentOnline

Splash out: Kent’s outdoor swimming spots

Splash out: Kent’s outdoor swimming spots

Make the most of summer days by taking a dip in the county’s gorgeous freshwater lakes and family-friendly outdoor pools.

‘More families should consider a home education – it could help children flourish’

‘More families should consider a home education – it could help children flourish’

A mum and home education company founder says more parents should “opt-out” of the mainstream and reap the rewards — but are there any drawbacks?

Don’t miss this year’s My Dad special for Father’s Day

Don’t miss this year’s My Dad special for Father’s Day

Hand-drawn pictures and lovingly crafted messages from thousands of children across Kent will appear in our special My Dad supplement.

Urban Outfitters set to replace shoe giants at shopping centre

Urban Outfitters set to replace shoe giants at shopping centre

Clothing giant Urban Outfitters is set to open its third Kent store at a busy shopping centre.

New escape room unveiled at leisure site

New escape room unveiled at leisure site

A popular escape room has lifted the lid on its latest immersive experience.

Replica of historic ship that discovered America to visit Kent

Replica of historic ship that discovered America to visit Kent

A replica of the ship which carried Columbus across the Atlantic is to dock in Kent and visitors are being offered a rare chance to go on board.

EDUCATION

‘More families should consider a home education – it could help children flourish’

‘More families should consider a home education – it could help children flourish’

HEALTH

‘They’ve got to step in - this is harming children’: Parents call for phone-free childhood

‘They’ve got to step in - this is harming children’: Parents call for phone-free childhood

Teens

Urban Outfitters set to replace shoe giants at shopping centre

Urban Outfitters set to replace shoe giants at shopping centre

Clothing giant Urban Outfitters is set to open its third Kent store at a busy shopping centre.

Top days out for teenagers

Top days out for teenagers

Celebrate the end of exam season by taking your teens to an escape room, music festival, go-kart track and more.

‘Everyone is shocked’: Anger as ‘vital’ school bus route suddenly axed

‘Everyone is shocked’: Anger as ‘vital’ school bus route suddenly axed

Parents and councillors have slammed a bus company’s “flippant” decision to axe a school bus service mid-way through the academic year.

See all Teens stories

Primary

‘More families should consider a home education – it could help children flourish’

‘More families should consider a home education – it could help children flourish’

A mum and home education company founder says more parents should “opt-out” of the mainstream and reap the rewards — but are there any drawbacks?

Devastation as primary school ‘facing possibility of closure’

Devastation as primary school ‘facing possibility of closure’

A school says it is facing potential closure over the next few months in a move which could leave hundreds of pupils without an education provider.

The 41 Kent schools and six hospitals awarded millions for upgrades and maintenance

The 41 Kent schools and six hospitals awarded millions for upgrades and maintenance

Dozens of schools and hospitals in Kent are to benefit from a share of almost £1.2 billion in government funding for upgrades and vital maintenance.

See all Primary stories

Toddler

New soft play to open in shopping centre

New soft play to open in shopping centre

A new space-themed soft play is set to open in a shopping centre.

Three schools among first wave getting ‘free nurseries for working parents’

Three schools among first wave getting ‘free nurseries for working parents’

Funding has been secured to open new “school-based nurseries” across several towns in a bid to tackle so-called childcare “deserts”.

Seaside paddling pool to shut for a year for makeover

Seaside paddling pool to shut for a year for makeover

A paddling pool will not reopen until next summer as it undergoes upgrades as part of a town centre’s £20 million regeneration scheme.

See all Toddler stories

Baby

‘My baby fought back from death after doctors mistook rare heart defect for common chest infection’

‘My baby fought back from death after doctors mistook rare heart defect for common chest infection’

A mum is sharing how her newborn baby was misdiagnosed with a common chest infection when she was actually facing heart failure from a rare defect.

Big improvements at maternity units at two Kent hospitals

Big improvements at maternity units at two Kent hospitals

Maternity units at two Kent hospitals have made “significant improvements” since receiving the worst-possible rating from inspectors.

Mum relives terror of five-week-old baby turning ‘floppy and blue’

Mum relives terror of five-week-old baby turning ‘floppy and blue’

A mum has spoken of the terrifying moment her five-week-old daughter stopped breathing - and thanked the emergency crew who saved her life.

See all Baby stories

Pregnancy

Urgent appeal issued to pregnant women in Kent and Medway

Urgent appeal issued to pregnant women in Kent and Medway

Public health officials have issued a strongly worded message to pregnant women in the county after the deaths of eight babies from whooping cough.

Most popular baby names in England as Olivia and Noah remain on top

Most popular baby names in England as Olivia and Noah remain on top

Olivia and Noah remain in the top spots, says the ONS, for the most popular baby names in England and Wales but which other monikers made the top 10?

Baby loss certificates for parents who lose a pregnancy before 24 weeks

Baby loss certificates for parents who lose a pregnancy before 24 weeks

Parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy can apply for a formal certificate from today that will acknowledge the loss of their child.

See all Pregnancy stories

Today on My Kent Family

Trending

Chat

Things to do

Kent aqua park launches exciting new adrenaline-fuelled addition

Kent aqua park launches exciting new adrenaline-fuelled addition

A new slide billed as the “perfect blend of fun and adrenaline” has opened at one of the county’s most popular waterside leisure venues.

Carnival to honour town’s legendary actor

Carnival to honour town’s legendary actor

Organisers behind a town’s historic carnival parade have revealed the theme for this year’s event is a legendary former resident.

Kent’s Blue Flag beaches to visit during the heatwave

Kent’s Blue Flag beaches to visit during the heatwave

Grab your bucket and spade, slap on some suncream and spend a hot summer’s day at one of the county’s beautiful Blue Flag beaches.

New soft play to open in shopping centre

New soft play to open in shopping centre

A new space-themed soft play is set to open in a shopping centre.

Other great ideas

Coming soon: Don't miss our My Dad special this Father's Day

Helpful links

Local news

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO)

© KM Group 2025