Opinion: Letters

WHO THE DEVIL?

I am writing in response to 'Tories talk to new PVI policy group' and 'Group will speak for you' (Nursery World, 22 October).

I am surprised Alan Bentley thinks that childcare providers need yet another representative voice. It is surely a much better use of resources if providers supported organisations that have already brokered relationships with the various Government departments.

The fact that these organisations are not given this kind of media coverage for each meeting they hold with a minister, or are invited to pen a weekly column to drum up membership, speaks more about the editorial practice of Nursery World than it does about the credibility of this new group.

Bentley believes the sector is in 'dire need of a trade association' and that through it, we will be magically able to 'protect ourselves' from Government policy. However, NDNA started out as exactly that in 1991 (National Private Day Nurseries Association, NPDNA), and it was soon apparent that it needed dedicated staff and proper financial support that membership fees alone cannot support.

Although stating that the group is 'non-partisan', it sounds very much like it is happy to do work for the Conservative minister, and as we know, a Government-in-waiting will happily use any new mouthpiece they can find. To find a self-publicist such as Mr Bentley will have been a bonus. He is doing exactly what they want from him by telling everyone that he has met with the Conservatives and is seeking as much publicity as possible.

Do your readers really believe that NDNA, PLA and NCMA and the large provider group (that Alan Bentley already belongs to) are not already meeting with ministers and representatives from all the political parties, as well as the civil servants that control the budgets? By dividing our support between too many groups, we do ourselves a disservice and, once divided, it is easy for new legislation to slip through. It is naive to suggest that this new group will be able to stop changes that we do not like. It will only divert attention and dilute representation.

I also understand that the group is reporting to the minister on the effectiveness of the EYFS. Surely there are enough expert groups already for the Conservatives to find the information they need. Or will it be that in their eagerness to be in the spotlight, this 'new group' will deliver the findings the Conservatives need to dismantle all that has gone before, and use these findings to justify their actions?

Be careful what you wish for, Mr Bentley, as the devil we know may be a lot better for the PVI sector than the next Government.

- Rosemary Murphy OBE, former chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association

- Letter of the Week wins £30 worth of books

Editor's reply: We covered the launch of the Day Nursery Policy Group as we would any other such initiative, and reported on Maria Miller's public speech - of great interest to readers. Alan Bentley has a monthly column, in which he has written about the new group only once. Should other organisations (who I must point out, all receive a great deal of coverage from us) wish to tell us about their conversations with ministers, we will happily report them!

DOUBLE FUNDING RISK

I am writing in response to 'MPs launch inquiry on funding formula' (News, 12 November).

Concerns about the Early Years Single Funding Formula are compounded by the announcement that parents delaying their child's start at school will be guaranteed a place in the school of their choice until the child reaches statutory school age, which could be up to a year.

Although there is no mention of this in the DCSF admissions consultation, Ed Balls has announced a free entitlement of 25 hours a week of pre-school provision for children whose parents delay entry to school beyond the September after their fourth birthday, which would involve double funding.

Local councils need to know the details of these proposals to plan future arrangements in a timely way.

Wendy Scott, early years consultant.

Send your letters to ... The Editor, Nursery World, 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP. letter.nw@haymarket.com 020 8267 8401