Letters

NANNIES CONTRIBUTE TO CARE PROVISION

We read with interest Katy Morton's article 'London Assembly considershow to make childcare in the capital more affordable' (online, 4November). We would urge that along with suggesting that localauthorities should be allowed to borrow money based on future businessrates to fund the building of new nurseries, London Assembly membersshould also take into consideration the affordable, accessible andextremely flexible professional childcare provided by nannies.

We agree that families in London face a real struggle when it comes tosourcing reliable, safe childcare to fit with their working hours. Thisis when employing a nanny comes into its own.

When discussing barriers to accessing childcare, the Association ofNanny Agencies (ANA) would like to see those meeting with the LondonAssembly's health and public services committee - organisations such asthe London Early Years Foundation and Daycare Trust in particular -including home childcare options. We would like them to seek to includerepresentation by the nanny sector so that we can draw attention to thevaluable contribution nannies can, and do, make to a working family'slife.