Highs and lows: comparison of nurseries

A study comparing different types of early years provision has raised many eyebrows. Alison Mercer reports he quality of provision in private day nurseries and playgroups lags behind the maintained sector - with playgroups coming bottom of the class, according to a major research project funded by the Department for Education and Employment. The findings are undoubtedly a blow for both the private and voluntary sectors, and perhaps an embarrassment to others, too. They were published last November, very quietly - possibly in the...