Media watch

Seven early years experts, including Marion Dowling and Iram Siraj-Blatchford, wrote a letter to The Times claiming the Government's 'early start on formal literacy' is not working. They said early years education 'should be about laying sound foundations for literacy, not asking children to read and write before they can talk.' Childcare expert Sheila Kitzinger criticised parenting guru Gina Ford for promoting techniques 'more suitable for training a dog'. According to the Daily Mail, Ms Kitzinger said parents are encouraged to treat their babies as enemies by enforcing 'boot camp' discipline and controlled crying.