What old can do for young

I was intrigued by your news story on Tops Day Nurseries training grandparents for part-time jobs (Nursery World, 23/30 December). Addison Pre-school has benefited from having a grandparent working as an assistant playleader for many years. The children seem to respond warmly to the different approach that an older person can bring to the setting. Not all the children have their grandparents around them, and both young and new parents have turned to a grandparent figure for advice and counsel - there is often no substitute for their experience and wisdom.