I am the former manager of Little Owl Pre-School in Woodhouse Eaves. Like Rosemary, I was eager to pacify Ofsted at first, encouraging staff to keep on top of assessments and so on. But as the paperwork grew, courses had to be attended, reports written, and so on, until I decided that enough was enough.
Last July I ceased to 'manage' our 'setting' and returned to my first love - having fun with and caring for children in my own home as a childminder.
Here the children can relax, play - with no-one writing notes about it, or quizzing them as to how or why - and develop at their own pace.
I am not sure where all of this will end, but I am very sure that many more dedicated and caring people like myself will decide that they have had enough, and leave the profession.
Audrey Bowers
Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire