TESTING TIME FOR PARENTS AND MINDER
I was fascinated to read Cath Hunter's behaviour article about whychildren may become upset or throw a tantrum at collection time (19May).
I have been childminding for more than 15 years and have seen many, manychildren begin to demonstrate this behaviour around the age of 18 monthsto three years. This often causes parents a great deal of anxiety, asthey are pleased to see their child and can't understand that theirchild doesn't feel the same way.
I have often reassured parents by saying that the child is testing bothof us, as they are confused by who is actually 'in charge' of them atthat precise moment. I alleviate this by taking charge, as the child isstill at my setting, and the parents always say they are grateful forthis.
A close working relationship with the parents is crucial for the childto learn how to cope with this situation, and the undesirable behaviourusually disappears after we take our consistent approach.
Kirsty Hillocks, registered childminder, Rochester, Kent
Our letter of the week wins 30 worth of books
WHY LEAVE EDGE HILL OUT OF THE TENDER?
I felt compelled to write after reading about Edge Hill University'somission from the Children's Workforce Development Council's (CWDC)approved tender list for the delivery of EYPS training (News, 26May).
I achieved my EYPS with Edge Hill earlier this year, gaining the dubiousdistinction of being (as far as we know) the only male EYP in Liverpool.I trained on the long pathway (my original degree being in physics) andreceived training from many excellent, experienced professionals.
My fellow students were also a constant source of knowledge, ideas andinspiration. Edge Hill also provides foundation and full degree trainingto staff across our small nursery chain, and we have found them to benothing short of excellent in their approach to the delivery of earlyyears training across the board.
The CWDC's decision is baffling, as surely a quality institution likeEdge Hill, that has staff and procedures already in place, should beautomatically allowed to continue.
We need more EYPs, not fewer. As a previous contributor to the CWDC'sPractitioner-Led Research programme, I feel that Edge Hill could teachthem a thing or two and, not the other way round.
Neil Butler, director, Ducklings Day Nursery, Merseyside
RECEPTION CLASSES NEED MORE ADULTS
I was delighted to read your focus on reception class ratios (Analysis,26 May) and to see that Dame Claire Tickell has raised this in herreport. The reason that the ratio for reception classes was notaddressed when the Early Years Foundation Stage was published was thatthey fall under the legislation for infant class sizes and could not beaddressed in the statutory document which set up the requirements forthe EYFS.
Many early childhood organisations have continued to raise this as anissue. We are told that most reception classes have an extra adult forsome part of the day. At the current time, when headteachers are lookingvery closely at their budgets, there is a serious risk that these extraadults will be cut and teachers will be left on their own with 30children.
Although this will be legal, I do not believe that it will be possibleto offer a quality experience for reception children in the context ofindoor and outdoor environments and to fulfill the requirements of theEYFS. Indeed I think it would be unsafe!
I believe that we should continue, not just to campaign for the currentsituation, but should look to having a ratio of one qualified earlyyears teacher and two qualified practitioners at least at NVQ3 level orwith a nursery nurse qualification, per 30 children. Then we would havea chance of providing real quality in our reception classes.
Anne Nelson, early years specialist and member of the steering group ofthe Early Childhood Forum
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