STAND UP TO THE EYFS
I take issue with the letter by Beth Thomas (3 July), when she refers topress reports of childminders being frightened by the Early YearsFoundation Stage and comments, 'Those of us who are still standing aregiving our best efforts to embrace it'.
I believe she piously infers that the rest of us childminders who areopposed to the EYFS do so by either cowering under a table or by buryingour heads in the sand. On the contrary, it takes more guts to stand upand say no about something you don't believe in and/or don't feel isnecessary, than it does to follow, like sheep, every policy issued by aGovernment with a track record of regularly messing up our children'seducation.
It is not the EYFS childminders who are still standing. They threw inthe towel, laid down and surrendered ages ago, because they lacked theconviction to say, 'Hold on a minute - we are already doing a great job,and why is this Government using an iron fist in a velvet glove toimpose its will by using legislation and sanctions to ensure thateveryone does it their way and their way alone?'
Many childminders, parents and experts in the field of children'seducation believe the EYFS should be used as guidelines for those whowant to use it, but not something imposed on everyone by law.
There are currently well over 7,000 people who have 'stood up' andsigned the OpenEYE petition at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/OpenEYE/. Thiscalls for an urgent independent review of the compulsory Early YearsFoundation Stage policy framework, and for reducing the status of itslearning and development requirements to 'professional guidelines'.
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HEAR, HEAR BERCOW
The Bercow review (Analysis, 17 July) has confirmed what many parents ofchildren with autism have been telling us - provision for children withspeech, language and communication needs is inadequate, and it mustimprove.
We strongly welcome Bercow's emphasis on early identification andintervention, and support his call for an assessment process and betterspeech and language services. It is also imperative that parents get theright support to understand the needs of their child and what help isavailable to them.
Many parents have experienced huge inequalities in accessing the speechand language services their child desperately needs. Parents are oftenpushed back and forth between health and education authorities, oftenreceiving no proper help from either. Furthermore, many children withautism do not receive speech and language therapy even when it is alegal requirement in their statement of special educational need.
Autism is a serious, lifelong and disabling condition and it is totallyunacceptable that children with autism continue to be excluded fromplaying a full part in society by not receiving the language therapythey need. We urge local and national government to implement Bercow'srecommendations and take immediate action to improve provision for youngpeople with autism.
Mark Lever, National Autistic Society chief executive
REVAMP THE BUGGIES
The letter about buggies (26 June) made me reminisce about when my nowgrown-up children were babies. I had a Maclaren 'Dreamer' buggy, theheight of any new mum's accessories of the 1980s! This allowed the babyto face parents or the outside world by a simple flip system. I also hada similar buggy made by Silver Cross. Both buggies were suitable frombirth, could attach a carrycot, had a flip system to face parent oroutwards, and they even had shopping trays underneath and swivel frontwheels that could be locked depending on the ground surface orpreference. These buggies were very popular and sturdy.
I am sure this design could be revamped using today's technology andfabrics. It might be a good idea to contact the manufacturers direct. Ifenough people lobby the current manufacturers, then maybe we will startto see new versions of these designs being pushed up and down the highstreets.
Judith Baxter, nursery manager, St Mary's Nursery, Hexham
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