Letters

I would like to respond to Sir Michael Wilshaw (news, 19 March-1 April).Oh dear Sir Michael, it would appear you have thrown your baby out withthe bathwater!

I am so sorry you don't appear to value the money spent on childminders'inspections. If you ever were to experience one, you would find afour-hour, one-on-one inspection an intense examination, which wouldexplain the expense. However, I fear your comment 'I think the issue is... it becomes childminding, care and support rather than subscribing tothe EYFS education goals' highlights your lack of understanding of thechildminding profession.

Maybe you think we just drag the children round on school runs andshopping trips. Yes, of course we do. It's a part of a childhood thatchildren are losing out on, as more families shop online and dropchildren off at breakfast clubs. Through the school run they learn tomind about other people (personal, social and emotional development),they know they too will grow up and their turn will come, and they learna lot about time (problem solving, reasoning and numeracy). They walk(or hop or skip or jump) to the local shops to buy the food they aregoing to eat (physical development). I care that they learn their rightfrom their left as they learn to cross the road (unique child). Isupport them when they are looking for the items on the shopping list(communication, language and literacy), or sorting out the money to pay(PSRN). And we bring pleasure to the shop assistants who join in thegame, counting the change back into their hands (making a positivecontribution and relationships). The children have real experiences tosupport their imaginations when they play shops back at home(imagination and response).