Nursery World - Letter of the week

Why must every children's centre include a qualified teacher? This seems outrageous, as it discriminates between nursery nurses and teachers. Does the Government think a nursery nurse cannot do the same job as a teacher? If qualified staff have imagination and are eager to provide a high-quality, stimulating environment, then there should be no difference in the curriculum in a centre. I believe that nursery nurses provide a hands-on approach and teachers want to see more of an end result.

If qualified staff have imagination and are eager to provide a high-quality, stimulating environment, then there should be no difference in the curriculum in a centre. I believe that nursery nurses provide a hands-on approach and teachers want to see more of an end result.

Relating with external agencies, supporting parents and running training courses are things that come second nature to nursery nurses who have worked in social services or council-run establishments. But it's all new for teachers. So why are teachers paid more than even the centre managers?

Twenty years ago I worked in a day nursery in a disadvantaged area and we provided everything that a children's centre does now. There was not a teacher in sight. Staff attended case conferences, made court appearances and provided detailed assessments and records.

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