INVITE PVI SECTOR IN
While I welcome the establishment of a 'steering group of high-profileexperts' formed in order to work collaboratively with the Government onpolicy issues (News, 3 March), I am extremely disappointed to note, onceagain, the lack of representation from the private, voluntary andindependent (PVI) sector.
The PVI sector accounts for some 80 per cent of the UK's 15,000-plus daynurseries (source: NDNA stats 2008) and is a key delivery partner on theextended, flexible free entitlement and the Childcare Act. How, then,can this majority be ignored? Surely their input is vital to informingthe direction of early years policy?
I would echo Dawn Nasser's call for the views of small private providersand nursery chains to be given a voice ('More PVI places under threat',News, 17 March), and ask children's minister Sarah Teather to reconsiderher alienation of the PVI sector by inviting representation from thesector.
Adeline Garman, Business Development Manager, Early Years Childcare,East Sussex
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RECRUITING MEN
Having worked in childcare for a number of years, I always remember howI found my first nursery job. My local career advisor was key to findingme a nursery placement. Childcare was not my desired field of work; Iwanted to become a teacher.
Having entered the nursery sector, I am so pleased I found thisenvironment, as it has been one of the most enjoyable jobs I have done.Being a male nursery nurse was always rewarding, and I don't thinkpeople understand how much opportunity there is for progression withinthe sector.
From being a nursery assistant I managed to complete my training andbecome a childcare assessor, before starting my own recruitmentagency.
It is this field of work that has given my life a second chance. I saythis because at school I never managed to do very well, but having theoption to train in an environment that I enjoyed and got support frommade all the difference. But how do we make this sector more attractiveto men like myself?
I think it's more than just advertising. The sector needs to work withschools, allowing more work experience for longer periods of time. Youngmales need to be able to spend time in a nursery setting and alsoreceive strong support and praise from the start. It's the praise andsupport from all my colleagues in the past that really kept megoing.
I think that with male recruitment the industry needs to work togetherand keep pushing. As a recruitment agency there is only so much that wecan do, but we are keen to support males coming into the childcaresector.
Andrew Barber, Everything Childcare Agency, Berkshire
NO FREE EDUCATION
Children's minister Sarah Teather used the word 'free' no less than 14times to describe early education places in her article renouncing thecall for providers to have the ability to charge 'top-up fees' (TheMinister's View, 24 March).
Early education sessions are not, nor have ever been free. They areheavily funded by private providers, initially at the insistence of theprevious Government and now, more disappointingly, at the insistence ofthe current one.
When will the Government give credit to providers who choose to remainin the scheme solely for the benefit of the children involved, despitesustaining losses in this respect? Indeed, it is this very commitment tothe welfare of children generally that successive Governments havesought to exploit in order to deliver their policies 'on the cheap'.
Ms Teather, please do us the courtesy of referring to these sessions inthe future as 'providersubsidised early years education' and acknowledgethe very great contribution and sacrifice that settings make towards thecare, education and development of the children in their local areas,despite the Government's policies rather than because of them.
Brian Cooper, Meir Park Day Nursery, Stoke-on-Trent
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