Nursery World - Editor's view (177)

The news that the education select committee report on the early years has called for all staff to be qualified to at least NVQ3, with leaders at graduate level, within ten years should cheer everybody in the sector (see News, page 4). It is a vindication of Nursery World's 'Stop the drop' campaign against the Government's proposal for at least half of staff in a setting to be qualified only to NVQ2. The committee has also taken a very firm stand against the disgraceful regulation that will allow childminders to smack children and smoke in front of them with parents' permission.

The committee has also taken a very firm stand against the disgraceful regulation that will allow childminders to smack children and smoke in front of them with parents' permission.

All in all, the committee's report is a thoughtful and wide-ranging document, which tackles most of the main issues while stopping short of a revolutionary approach. The all-party group of MPs has obviously listened to and understood the representatives of the early years sector who gave it evidence. The select committees seem to be remarkably sane affairs where politicians can for once put aside vested party interests and end up with a worthwhile and thought-provoking report. It's just a pity the Government is under no obligation to act on their recommendations.

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