At last I felt there was an opportunity for me to remain a 'hands-on' practitioner, yet receive recognition for my early years degree and experience with young children and their families.
I agree with Margaret Edgington (Special Report, 4 May) that young children need the best qualified staff. However, in my opinion, her comment, 'The only reason I can see is that the practitioners being targeted for EYP status are not able to meet the requirements for teacher training,' is insulting and short-sighted.
As a single parent with young children, I struggled to pay daily bills yet devoted myself to the career I love. As the children have grown I have accessed training at every opportunity, initially gaining a BPhil, and will soon complete a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education.
I am still a nursery officer. I have explored teaching as a career, as this has been a route recommended to me in order to enhance my salary, but I cannot afford to train as I have a mortgage and other commitments.
Working with young children is a specialism. It is a vocation and a delight. I believe there are individuals working in the early years field who could attain the practical and academic requirements of teaching status, although their home circumstances and their desire to offer young children the very best start in life prevail.
* Kay Heslop, Benton, Newcastle Upon Tyne
