Letters

HOW EYFS FREES US

Regarding the amount of paperwork due to the new EYFS, at my setting we have found completely the opposite. The staff have more time to spend with the children, at activities of the child's choice.

The planning has changed and it is more individually structured, so each child develops at their own pace. The planning is done within the rooms and staff observe children in all areas of play. The parents have opportunities to contribute to their child's planning by taking part in parent observations.

The staff have been positive towards the changes and this has been reflected on the children and parents. We aim for every child to go on an incredible learning journey at our setting; with the support of the EYFS we believe we can do it.

Lois Streets, manager, Amberley Nursery, Bexhill on Sea, Sussex

- Letter of the Week wins £30 worth of books

ADVICE ON PLANNING

In response to Nicole Williams (Letters, 4 September), the EYFS should reduce paperwork, as planning is centred around the individual child's needs and interests. We at Childcare Consultancy have delivered numerous training sessions nationally and internationally around EYFS issues and providers have commented that, in fact, planning has become more concise as a result of the EYFS. If Nicole would like to e-mail me, I would gladly give her further advice about planning. In addition, she should contact her local authority early years team, for additional support and guidance on EYFS issues.

Laura Henry, managing director, Childcare Consultancy, laura@childcareconsult.co.uk

WE SUBSIDISE THE NEG

After Gordon Brown's conference speech with his 'generous sounding' announcement about yet more free nursery places, let's get some facts clear. While recognising the benefits for all children of high-quality nursery education and applauding any genuine efforts by government to make this more available, it is time there was clarity about nursery grant funding.

If three- and four-year-olds really did receive free nursery education, and now two-year-olds, a large percentage of nurseries up and down the country would be forced to close overnight. Why? Because the nursery grant paid termly to parents does not, in most cases, cover more than 33 to 50 per cent of the charges necessary to enable them to retain their financial viability and offer the quality of provision and standards required.

NEG of £400-£500 per term is, in truth, a 'subsidy', and with the majority of nurseries charging £700-plus to survive, it doesn't take much to work out that the grant is a subsidy and nurseries cannot operate for that alone. This means that 'top-up fees' are essential. But they are banned by the Code of Practice.

The local authority conditions for 'free places' must be signed by all providers in order for parents 'who ask for it' to receive the grant. Nurseries sign while praying that parents will not demand a free core place! Parents who understand this paradox willingly make up the discrepancy, keeping the nursery of their choice viable.

Until they can fund quality nursery provision properly, Gordon Brown and Co need to revise the Code of Practice to enable providers to charge legitimate top-up fees and put more honesty into government.

Kim Simpson, Studio Montessori, Richmond; Anne-Marie True, Barnes Montessori Nursery, London

OFSTED RUDENESS

I am surprised that anyone has anything good to say about Ofsted. Not only have I had to make complaints about inspectors on two separate occasions and won one appeal, while the other is pending, I have now received a letter asking for immediate settlement of an invoice that I only just received yesterday. The tone of the letter is very rude and implies that the bill has been outstanding for several weeks, yet the invoice was only printed the day before the letter. This bill was for a £25 fee, and I have only just paid them £180!

I wonder if other settings have been treated in this unacceptable manner. If I were judging Ofsted personnel on 'customer relations' they would definitely be 'Inadequate'.

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