Letters: Letter of the week - Speaking matters

The statistics on the impact of poor communication skills in later lifemade a big impression on me - 65 per cent of young offenders have poorcommunication skills. This is the first time I have heard the coldreality of what can happen to children at the end of compulsoryeducation who are unable to communicate effectively.

I am an EYP who has worked in early years for a considerable time,during which I have watched the decline of children's speech andlanguage skills despite the hard work of a dedicated workforce and theintroduction of initiatives to stem the tide.

I want to stand on the roof tops and shout a big 'wake up' to all thoseresponsible for encouraging children's communication skills - and yes, Iam talking about families. Jean Gross talked about the 'serve andreturn' of communication. How many parents do we see who talk at theirchildren, giving orders which are often not followed, leading tofrustration and so on? How many times do we observe children's chatterdismissed in favour of more adult conversation?

Many people have asked me over the years, 'How can you stand workingwith children?' I always reply that I enjoy their company; they arefunny, say what they think and I learn a lot from them. The response isnormally that they prefer the company of adults, to which I generallyoffer a wry smile. They don't know what they are missing. Unfortunatelyit is not just the adults who are missing out, it is the children aswell.

Carol Adams, The Squirrels, Chertsey, Surrey

Our letter of the week wins 30 worth of books

WHY WE NEED TO ASK

I have a major concern over recruiting staff to work in childcare (andwith vulnerable adults and children generally), with regard to theEqualities Act brought in last October.

I do not wish anyone the bad fortune to be unemployable. However, underthe Act we cannot ask for a health questionnaire to be completed with anapplication form, nor can we ask how much time off a person has hadunder previous employment. While I understand the reasons behind this, Icannot ask such questions until a person has been given a job offer, soif any issues come to light, the person is employed. It could then takemonths of doctors'

REPORTS TO SHOW SOMEONE IS UNFIT OR UNSUITABLE TO WORK IN CHILDCARE.

I'm worried that I could end up employing someone with, say, mentalhealth issues or a condition that it would be reasonable to considerunsuitable for working in childcare. The possible risk to children isunthinkable, never mind the possibility of parents finding out andremoving their children.

We have to go to great lengths to satisfy Ofsted on safeguarding, yethere we are with an Act that could put children at risk. I feel itshould have exceptions for applying for posts with vulnerablepeople.

Mark Cawley, New Road Nursery, Chippenham, Wiltshire

HEALTHY DIET NEWS

Researchers at Bristol University have found that children who are fed adiet of junk food before the age of three have a lower IQ in lateryears. The difference could be as much as five IQ points when comparedto a child with a healthy diet. The study found that good nutrition inthe first three years, when the brain grows at its fastest rate, wascrucial, as with too few vitamins and nutrients the brain never grows toits optimum level. Switching to a healthy diet after the age of threewas found to be too late.

This study indicates that nurseries and pre-schools have an importantrole in providing children with a healthy, balanced diet. Our nurseryemploys its own on-site chef and meals use fresh, locally sourcedingredients. Menus are developed with the help of senior nutritionaladvisers and no salt or additives are used. The nursery combines goodfood with educating the children about healthy eating, where food comesfrom and how to prepare it.

Donna Martin, manager, Nursery on the Green, Frimley Green, Surrey.

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