Not all of us can work 9.30 - 2.30 and afford to live, of course we have to use after school and breakfast clubs. What planet is this guy on?

Liz, Ely, Cambs

The uk education system was put in place for children's benefit to stop them from having to work the mills. There is no such threat now, why send our babies into institutions which destroy the very qualities that employers love?
I took my children out of the system - they are happy, curious and safe

Diana, altrincham,

What a lot of cobblers about both parents "Wanting" to go back to work! In this rip off country, unless you are a bank executive, both parent HAVE to go to work.
Modern Britain, killing families!

Pete, s, England

To Kim Domnick, Torquay, UK

Employers are not in business to be family friendly, why should those without kids be put upon to keep you covered when you are off work because of your children. Thiking about other people works both ways, the whole world is not your babysitter or social worker

Rob Bain, derby,

It seems that Britain has no love for its children.

Just like the Victorian days then.

Children should be seen and not heard.

Children in Britain are second class citizens.

I home schooled when I came over here, as the standard was so low compared to Ireland.

Lilith Barrett, London, UK

I find it sad that everything including so called child support at home and in the schools is down to money. What happened to love and care in Britain.

Toni, Silves, Portugal

So Richard I guess you're suggesting that teachers should work 365 days a year raising other people's children? I strongly believe that parents need to stop finding excuses to dump all of their responsibilities on teachers. You brought a child into this world you have a commitment to it period.

Cameron Gill, Bridgetown, Barbados

The Head Teachers are right - many parents abdicate their parenting responsibilities.

Of course one could argue that with such poorly skilled or bad parents, are the children actually better-off away from such bad parents as often as possible?

If so, then we need proper funding for this.
Sam.

Sam Redman, London, UK

The real abdication is in having your kids taught by people who do not believe what you beleive, with material that will be forgotten shortly after they leave school. 10 years of drudgery to feed our worthless civilisation. Parents: teach your own kids, and bring back apprenticeship.

Greg Lorriman, Leatherhead, UK

The main problem is that parenting skills are few and far between in Britain now. Standards in the country have fallen and parents enforce even lower ones upon their children.
Some parents seem to believe that it is the school's responsibility to further their children and not theirs at all.

Jonny, Northwood, England

Basic problem ? To drive a car you need a licence to prove that you are competent and can behave responsibly. To have children you need no-one's permission at all. So anyone can have children, and as many as they like whether or not they can afford it. This is the problem nobody will face.

john, nottingham,

Schools seem to do an excellent job of "abdicating" responsibility for educating pupils every "teacher training day", local election and the like.
No mention of this though - and the cost to people of extra child care else days off work

Richard, Greater Manchester,

Ofsted inspections will not deter competent teachers from seeking to run schools. If these inspections deter the weak and incompetent then everyone gains: children, parents, taxpayers and society in general. Many state schools are failing as it is, without inspections things would be much worse.

Des, Edinburgh,

“For children from the most fragile family backgrounds, we have to put in place highly tailored, multi-agency solutions that make a real difference to the child’s life,” she said.

“government does not bring up children – parents do”.

A contradiction?

RB, Lauzun, France

The headteachers' words are important. Children do best when cared for by their own parents and the government must reverse its disastrous policy of considering any kind of child minding as better than that of parents. Pay mothers who care for their children not just those who care for others.

George, Bolton, England

Unfortunately, employers regard parents, absent from the workplace for too long, as unemployable . Furthermore, employers demand flexibility and prefer full-time committment.
For single parents, an early return to work maximises much-needed earning potential. We need some family-friendly employers

Kim Domnick, Torquay, UK