Opinion: Letters

PARENTAL CONSENT

As a parent and a nursery practitioner, I was interested in Ofsted's involvement in a complaint about the Sunbeams nursery in Leeds not allowing children to sleep (News, 9 July). For me it raised questions on the roles of parents, nurseries and Ofsted (or other government bodies) in bringing up young children.

As a parent, I would expect a nursery to carry out my wishes. However, as a practitioner, if a parent made a request that I thought wasn't in the best interests of the child, I would discuss it with them. For a child, being in nursery all day is different from being at home, and parents may not realise this. So surely this is all about communication?

I sense that this report is not the whole story; but I hope Ofsted is not saying that we should ignore the wishes of parents in the belief that we know better. This attitude towards parents, which unfortunately I have seen only too often in nurseries, can only result in damaging relationships with them - which could ultimately have a negative effect on the welfare of their children.

Allison Aves, Northwood, Middlesex

WORRYING RESPONSE

Katy Morton's article on the Conservatives' current early years policy stance (News, 9 July) contains much of interest. We believe, first, that shadow minister David Willetts is right to argue that the precipitate decline in childminder numbers can effectively be reversed only if the undue emphasis being placed on childminders 'delivering' early years education via the statutory EYFS is substantially relaxed. We also agree that there is an undue emphasis being placed on educational 'outcomes' (via the EYFS learning goals), well before children even begin compulsory schooling.

The politically correct response to Willetts' suggestions from Andrew Fletcher of the National Childminding Association is deeply concerning. Mr Fletcher seems to have bought into the audit culture imposed on early years. He refers to 'a false distinction between care and education', speaks of childminders 'achieving good outcomes', and argues that care and education are, or should be, a seamless continuum.

In expressing these views, Mr Fletcher buys wholesale into the 'earlier is better' mentality, and fundamentally misunderstands the crucial distinction between learning and teaching. Of course young children learn from the day they are born (and beforehand), but one of the many tragic unintended consequences of the EYFS is that it has surreptitiously smuggled into practitioners' consciousness the quite unwarranted assumption that it is their job to ensure that young children learn certain things, and that it is both possible and appropriate to control and direct such learning. Nothing could be further from the truth, and we believe that the Conservative statement is making at least some movement towards accepting such a view, which we welcome.

Richard Brinton, Wendy Ellyatt and Graham Kennish, The Open EYE Campaign

WRITERS' BLOCK

Having read 'Children's authors slam Vetting scheme' (News, 23 July) I am infuriated with these authors who will no longer visit schools due to the new requirements. We would all love to live in a society where these processes are not required, but unfortunately we don't.

This scheme is about protecting our children and if it only protects one child surely it is worth it. It does not mean we are any more suspicious of these particular people, it is a requirement for everyone having access to children.

Does Ms Fine not realise that by withdrawing from visiting schools it is she and her colleagues who are creating the gulf between young people and the rest of society? Those who do no wrong will always be welcome to work with children and young people; it is different for those who see this as an opportunity to access children and young people for all the wrong reasons. Let the authors put their views to the Government in a way that does not result in children missing out. I am sure they can be quite imaginative.

Ann Deighton, York College.

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