Unfortunately, as any student of economics will tell you, this is whathappens when the forces of infinite demand (and free provision andentitlement is, almost by definition, going to lead to infinite demand)collide with finite resources.
The result is rationing of one sort or another - either in terms ofwaiting lists for hospitals, or, in this case, the failure to providesufficient funds to offset the true costs of the provision for earlyyears education.
Insisting that all nurseries are led by a degree-qualified member ofstaff, and imposing staff to pupil ratios that are financiallyprohibitive, merely adds to the misery.
As a result of this both Sasha Edmunds and Debbie Palmer (Letters, 19July) are thinking of closing down their early years facilities. Thelatter reasons (the degree qualified leader and ridiculous ratios) areleading us to consider the same fate for the early years department ofour own school.
If the government insists on sticking its nose into matters which arenone of its business, and wants schemes like this to work, then itshould fund the matters fully, out of general taxation, and, as AlanBentley says, ringfence the money.
Schemes like this are all well in theory, but getting them right inpractice is difficult. Most of them including, I fear, this one aredoomed before they start.
On the basis that it won't fund the NEG scheme properly, the governmentshould refund the money removed from the citizen's pocket (in taxes) andlet parents decide where - if at all - they want their children's earlyyears education to take place.
CHRISTOPHER PRICE, co-owner, Merton Court School, Sidcup, Kent.
