Nursery World - Priceless experience

In response to Jayne Smart's letter on the importance of experience in childcare (Nursery World, 3 August), I have been a childminder for nine years and looked after a large number of children, from babies to young teenagers and including disabled children and those deemed at risk. My husband has recently become my work partner, leaving the police force after 16 years. His natural ability to encourage and nurture the children and the respect that they have for him as a role model are invaluable. For some of our children and parents he is the primary stable male figure in their lives. His police officer experience, such as coping with parents, children with difficulties, child protection and bereavement, cannot be gained through a degree course.

My husband has recently become my work partner, leaving the police force after 16 years. His natural ability to encourage and nurture the children and the respect that they have for him as a role model are invaluable. For some of our children and parents he is the primary stable male figure in their lives. His police officer experience, such as coping with parents, children with difficulties, child protection and bereavement, cannot be gained through a degree course.

We should remember that childcare is our primary concern. I agree with Jayne that having graduates as nursery managers may not be best for our future. Private nurseries need to be financially viable, but do we really want someone running them whose priority is budgeting and number-crunching and is removed from the grass roots of why we provide childcare in the first place?

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