Samantha Cullinane (Letters, 30 August) talks of the terrible treatment of students in day nurseries, and how they are often left to do the uninteresting tasks and are not encouraged to join in with the children. I find it very sad that this happens and it is such a shame that so many students are coming away with a dislike of day nurseries. I am head of a day nursery and have been working there for more than four years. I started there as an NVQ student. I was treated with great respect and was valued as highly as the rest of the staff. It made a good impression on me because I have never looked back, and would never leave to work in another day nursery.
Samantha Cullinane (Letters, 30 August) talks of the terrible treatment of students in day nurseries, and how they are often left to do the uninteresting tasks and are not encouraged to join in with the children. I find it very sad that this happens and it is such a shame that so many students are coming away with a dislike of day nurseries.
I am head of a day nursery and have been working there for more than four years. I started there as an NVQ student. I was treated with great respect and was valued as highly as the rest of the staff. It made a good impression on me because I have never looked back, and would never leave to work in another day nursery.
A lot of our staff are people who came to us as students from colleges and training organisations. We encourage the fun and activities, and they are involved with the children as much as the next member of staff.
Working in a day nursery is extremely rewarding. You have wonderful relationships with the parents and you work closely with a brilliant staff team. We are more than willing to take students so they can feel, see and experience this atmosphere and way of work. More often than not, the students come back to help, visit and even become members of staff. We would be lost without them.
Lorraine Burden, Tots' Village Nursery, Mitcham, Surrey
