Sir, Financial incentives to independent pre-school services to attract graduates (report and leading article, Dec 30) is one way to raise standards. However, it masks two vital challenges in children’s and adults’ social services: first, the reality that good care is costly and, second, that staff require training and the opportunity to build professional qualifications.

Among current staff are many who, with the removal of the qualification and academic bars between NVQ and graduate training routes, could move into positions of leadership and thus be encouraged to stay. The problem is not just one of pay; staff need qualifications with real academic value which can be utilised in a range of care and educational settings.

BILL McKITTERICK
Director of Social Services Bristol, 1995-2005;
Lead for workforce development, Assocation of Directors of Social Services, 2001-05

Sir, I detect a certain irony in the Government’s admission that children brought up in graduate-led nurseries do better than those in establishments where staff qualifications are scant. However, when a competent, educated mother, who is ambitious for her children, wisely decides to avoid the dubious infant industry until her child is 3, she is said to be “wasting her education”.

Group care of infants presented as “education” to credulous and financially hard-pressed parents has nothing to do with sensitive pre-school education at an appropriate age. It is not needed by children, is not truly wanted by most parents, is not the panacea for social ills that it is held up to be and now turns out to be neither affordable nor of high quality.

Would it not be better for all concerned if the vast amounts of money that are being poured into this ill-fated venture were to go directly to the parents of young children, who are usually the best judges of their needs?

ANNA LINES
Chair, Full Time Mothers
London SE19

Sir, You refer in passing to childminding, when you appear still to be discussing nurseries. Childminding is a separate branch of childcare, also regulated by Ofsted.

That you should confuse the two is unfortunate but understandable, as the media generally seems to talk about nannies, childminders, au pairs and other childcare workers as if the terms were interchangeable. The general ignorance of the media reflects the public’s knowledge of childcare. If parents are to select the type of childcare which best suits their child, they need to understand the strengths of each type before reaching a decision.

While parents usually take great care in selecting schools for older children, too often they make decisions concerning the care of their children during their early years, when they are most vulnerable and impressionable, without adequate thought — and in ignorance of what the different types of provision have to offer.

DAVID C. LANE
Wakefield, W Yorks

Sir, A typical day nursery’s salary bill is about 80 per cent of its income (from parents), compared with 40 per cent in other businesses. According to the Daycare Trust, many parents say that they cannot afford to pay any more for childcare in day nurseries, despite receiving limited help with the cost through the Government’s child tax-credit scheme.

Given the importance of childcare to the economy, the Government has been slow to give nursery nurses the recognition they deserve in what is still a low-salary, low-status sector. What is needed is direct funding for all nursery staff and not just graduates.

JAMES TWEED
Editor, Nursery Management Today
Sutton, Surrey

Sir, My daughter (age 29) has worked as a nursery nurse since leaving school. She is not a graduate but does hold the Nursery Nurse Examining Board diploma. The course requires two years’ full-time study. Where she works she is one of the few qualified members of staff. Her wage is £6.60 per hour.

With this level of pay it is difficult to see what will attract graduates to this sector. Yet if the token graduate is remunerated adequately the rest of the staff would suffer. The parents of the nursery children must accept their responsibility and the cost. They pay labour rates in excess of £50 per hour for their car to be serviced but begrudge paying a minimal wage for someone to look after their most precious asset; their child.

BRUCE BRANDON
Hemel Hempstead, Herts

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