As head of a nursery centre caring for and educating 120 children, I must point out that qualified early years practitioners observe, assess and meet individual needs through a broad and balanced curriculum. There are no teachers within our establishment, yet our HMIe inspection reported no recommendations, with excellent good practice.
Both teachers and early years practitioners do an excellent job. We must realise and learn that whatever our designated title, we can and always will make a difference to young children's lives if we are qualified, committed professionals who care passionately about the children we work with. So please let us be honest and value and respect each profession without devaluing a nursery educational establishment that does not have or need a teacher to provide quality care and education to the highest standards. We must move on from this outdated mode of thought that it necessarily takes a teacher to raise standards, opportunities and experiences for our young children.
I can appreciate the EIS fighting for their members and understand the unsettling times for nursery teachers, but I feel strongly that the argument they use is totally wrong and unfair and devalues the very professional early years practitioners in a range of establishments.
Anne Higgison, Carluke, Lanarkshire
