Letting the parents of three- and four-year-olds take their hours of free nursery education at times to suit themselves may prevent children developing consistent relationships with staff and other children, early years consultants have warned.
In its five-year education plan the Government this month unveiled the concept of 'educare', integrating nursery education and childcare. It said 12 and a half hours of free 'educare' could be taken flexibly across the week for a minimum of 33 weeks a year, 'according to children's and families' needs'.
But early years experts said the proposal is more geared to the needs of parents and their employment, rather than children.
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