Opinion: Editor's view

Few daycare companies have done more to challenge stereotypical images of a grasping private sector than nursery chain Child Base (News, page 3). The company model is unusual and its commitment to staff has been impressive. This year the company was ranked 31st on the Sunday Times Best 100 Companies to Work For, a list it has featured on seven times.

According to this year's rating, the vast majority of its staff feel that their training is of great benefit to them personally (82 per cent - the second highest out of all the best 100 companies), that they can make a difference to the organisation (72 per cent) and that their work is stimulating (80 per cent).

Staff now own 60 per cent of Child Base, and it is planned to transfer total ownership to staff within the decade, making it truly the John Lewis of childcare.

Whatever its size or model, however, the company's future success will depend on continued Government funding and a final resolution over the code of practice. Only then will nurseries remain viable and those committed to staff development be able to continue to invest in training at current levels.

The major political parties have been very quiet on the subject of early years funding, and the EYFS has made it into the manifesto of only the LibDems, with their firm stance on streamlining the framework (News, page 4). All three parties will be spelling out their policies in more detail in Nursery World next week.

In the meantime, it is cheering to see the 'Clegg effect' livening up the election campaign. We may not want 'politics of personality', but Clegg's showing in the TV debate is encouraging people - including the young - to get out and vote. Hopefully, everyone in the sector will be exercising that right in such an important poll.