WE COULD DO IT BETTER
In the Analysis feature, 'Time to abolish Key Stage One' (10 January), there was no mention of the private sector and its part in providing quality care and education. I feel that the education sector sees us very much as the poor relation. We work hard to help families care for and educate their children, with little or no recognition from the maintained sector.
Perhaps successive Governments should have managed their budgets better and, rather than open unsustainable facilities that cost millions of pounds, given grants to existing establishments that are keen to employ the very best staff and provide the very best facilities and, most important of all, subsidise childcare for hard-to-reach families, instead of making us seem elitist and unaffordable.
SARAH TAYLOR, owner, The Pines Nursery, Ilkeston, Derbyshire
Letter of the Week wins £30 worth of children's books
UNSURVEYED NANNIES
While PANN wholeheartedly welcomes any upward trend in the salaries of nannies, we would urge caution in how the findings of the nanny salary survey is interpreted (Analysis, 24 January). It is not true to suggest that finally, nannies are in receipt of a fair wage.
The survey questioned nanny agencies and families using the Nannytax payroll service. Families using these services, by their very nature, will be the ones who pay a fair salary and ensure that taxes and other deductions are correctly made. Our worry is that the vast majority of nanny employers do not use nanny agencies nor companies such as Nannytax, and therefore there is absolutely no way of knowing if these findings reflect accurately the position overall.
PANN still represents far too many nannies who are being paid just the minimum wage, working in excess of 45 hours a week. Sadly, we still come across nannies who are paid cash-in-hand, where their employer makes no contributions or deductions for tax and national insurance.
TRICIA PRITCHARD, senior professional officer, PANN
THE POINT ON GUNS
I have re-read Beverley Hughes' letter (24 January) and Catherine Gaunt's news story ('Let boys play with guns, says DCFS', 10 January), which Ms Hughes states 'is wrong'.
Who has missed the point?
As far as I understand, Ms Hughes' letter reiterates much of what is stated in the article. It only appears to differ at the end, where the NUT's Steve Sinnott says the use of toy weapons is not acceptable.
The news story even supports Ms Hughes' viewpoint, with Ann Nelson advocating that practitioners need to debate and monitor the outcomes of their decisions. Surely this is an example of, as Ms Hughes puts it, the 'importance of practitioners applying their professional judgement to ensure that children are safe and have the right environment'?
The more research I undertake for my foundation degree project, the more convinced I am that individual interpretation and understanding, especially with curriculum guidance, can be a hindrance and negative influence on practice.
What faith can we have in our children's minister, who has such influence on the legislation and policy-making that affects us all in early years practice?
Name and address supplied
WHY WE BUY LOCALLY
While not all organic, our nursery meat, fish, fruit and vegetables come from local suppliers. Our meat supplier rears his own animals and I believe they have had a good life. I would rather have a piece of local meat and know how it's been reared, than a piece of organic meat that has travelled a few extra miles.
Please do not write off food simply because it is not organic. Source your food products, visit the farm and see for yourself.
It is not just food suppliers who we support, but also our electrical, plumbing and many other small local businesses. We are part of the local community and actively support that economy. Many of the parents of the children we care for work within our local community. We feel we are putting something bigger back into it.
JUDITH BAXTER, manager, St Mary's Nursery, Hexham
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