THINK ABOUT IT
Congratulations to Julian Grenier and Nursery World for presenting two reflective, measured articles about the state of early years (10 and 17 January).
Julian Grenier has captured the flux situation we find ourselves in, as well as many of the attitudes that contribute to our circumstances. It is crucial that we all hold firm to our principles and pedagogy for the benefit of young children and families (established by the pioneers such as Froebel, Steiner, Montessori, McMillan and Isaacs), whatever phase, school, centre or setting we are based in.
It is also crucial to keep an open mind and measured view of the future. We have experienced many changes and continue to have a great opportunity to make a huge difference to all our futures and transform learning and care relationships both inside and outside early years by enhancing the chances of all children.
If we are precious, territorial and downright stubborn, we will fall at the first hurdle. We are the leadership and partnership role models of young children and families. I believe that this is a duty, so please let us be professional in carrying it out.
I came into nursery school education after being both a secondary and primary school teacher in Britain and abroad. I retrained, and over the past 17 years my passion has been inspired and nurtured, my learning journey nourished, by a whole host of early years leaders and practitioners far too numerous to mention.
I am very grateful to them, but most of all to the young children as it is them who we work for. They will inherit the future and will care for society and ourselves as we grow old. So we need to provide the very best now and work together in a measured, evaluative way as Julian Grenier suggests.
KATHRYN SOLLY, head learner and teacher, Chelsea Open Air Nursery School and Children's Centre, London
Letter of the Week wins £30 worth of children's books
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS
We were interested in the article about improving the business strategy of childcare in the social enterprise sector (News, 22 November). We have been working with several local authority Early Years Partnerships to support childcare settings in the not-for-profit sector, and wholeheartedly endorse the view that settings have been so practice-focused that their business skills and consequent sustainability has been compromised.
The issues facing these settings and their management boards are complex and wide-ranging. Many suffer a legacy of operating on a shoestring that was possible in the past, due to a wealth of goodwill and kind-heartedness. Unfortunately, this is no longer enough.
We know from our work that supporting settings to plan and manage their finances, set realistic fees, focus on marketing, and improve their human resources processes and legal status can have a profound and positive impact on their long-term sustainability.
Once settings have the tools and support to do this, they can change. But the reality is that many lack the tools because they have neither the time nor the knowledge to make this happen.
There are, incidentally, many local authorities who are providing significant business support to their early years settings and to childminders. But business support teams have a finite capacity, and can not always encourage settings to take up the support that is available to them. There is so much out there, but it can only be effective once management boards can accept that they are running a business and not just a service for the community.
GILL QUINN, director, Noel Quinn
GUNS FOR EVERYBODY
I thought 'Let boys play with guns, says DCSF' was a very good article by Catherine Gaunt (News, 10 January). However, I find the headline comes across as a bit stereotypical. In today's society it should read, 'Let children play with guns'.
PAUL BALDOCK, Bouldnor, Isle of Wight
Editor's note: Nursery World always strives to avoid stereotypical references. However, as the DCSF guidance was specifically about supporting boys, the headline reflected this.
- send your letters to ... The Editor, Nursery World, 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP letter.nw@haymarket.com 020 8267 8402.
