A NEW director of children’s services has been appointed for North Yorkshire - and he has already been getting out and about across the county, meeting children and young people.

Stuart Carlton will take over when Pete Dwyer, director for the past four years, retires at the end of this week.

“Raising the aspirations of all children is really important to me," he said.

“Getting them to look up, to see that they can do more and providing them all with the opportunities to do more is what drives me from day to day.”

Mr Carlton joins North Yorkshire from Lincolnshire where he was assistant director for children’s services. He began his career in 1988 and is qualified in both social work and social care management.

"I know what aspiration is all about," he said.

“My dad was the son of a poor trawlerman, one of eight, and though he passed his exams to go to grammar school, his family could not afford to send him and he left school at 14 so removing barriers and creating opportunities so that all children can be the best that they can be is a fundamental priority for me.”

Executive member for children's services Cllr Janet Sanderson said: “He comes to us with a great track record and his priorities fit hand-in-glove with our new children’s plan."