Politicians are not experts in education, but they do know where they stand. And they are experts in citing examples to support their biases. So, Mr Gove tells us that we should have longer school days and shorter holidays like countries in the Far East (although these countries have summer breaks no shorter than in the UK).
And Ms Truss is enthusiastic about childminder agencies as in the Netherlands (even though they don't work and are being abandoned), and ratios and structured nurseries to match what she admires in France (even though their early years provision has been judged of lower quality than in the UK).
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
