One voice must mean just one association

I cannot agree with Alan Bentley's column ('To the point' and News, 17 May) and find it very contradictory. He is asking us to speak with 'one voice', but surely setting up a separate association is splitting the voice into smaller groups who will not have such an impact with the Government? Mr Bentley says that another association should speak for all childcare providers, 'whether they have one nursery or 100'. Yet he says that at the large providers' group meeting they are going to decide about setting up another association - what about the opinion of small nurseries? NDNA has worked hard to get recognition from the Government and local authorities. NDNA has always stood for quality care, a point that seems to be forgotten in the politics around childcare. NDNA has also always responded to anything contradictory in the media. It may not be perfect in meeting everyone's expectations, but it is there to fight our corner and will always listen to members' views. If more people supported NDNA instead of pulling the association apart, we would have a stronger, united voice.