Nursery World - A round-up of responses to the Nursery Education Grant special report, 12 October

Does Ross Midgley really believe that the issue will go away by re-jigging schedules? He overlooks three very important issues. First, few daycare centres are attended by children for five full days.

First, few daycare centres are attended by children for five full days.

Families buy services based on individual needs, which requires sophisticated systems for allocation of places, complex planning and a flexible workforce. Many centres do not work to full capacity because they recognise parents want choice.

Second, many providers are classed as daycare by Ofsted but run separate morning and afternoon sessions. These providers will be most affected when the free education grant is extended.

Finally, but very importantly, do we want children spending ten-hour days, five days a week, 48 weeks a year in institutions, so that we can make our balance sheets work?

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