We need a happy ending to this story

I am the owner/manager of two nurseries. As such, I have become much less hands-on with the children and more of a juggler of time to allow my staff to complete all the necessary bureaucracy. This is as well as having two administrative support workers.

Most parents want their children to experience quality play and are only interested in their children's enjoyment of nursery. Recently a parent voiced something my colleagues and I have long held to be the case - that the time spent writing reports, observations, planning and assessment is time not spent playing with the children.

Although I agree there must be a minimum standard of care and quality in the nursery setting and, of course, a way to inspect and measure this, the amount of paperwork expected of us all has become so onerous that many staff are demoralised and demotivated by it. As the rewards of our profession are mainly intrinsic and certainly not financial, the amount of unnecessary paperwork will only add to the numbers of dedicated, experienced and caring workers leaving the childcare sector.

I hold my breath every time a letter arrives at our setting from Ofsted or our Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership as I hope it is not further paperwork to be completed and kept to pacify the Ofsted inspectors.

Surely it is time we all said, 'Enough is enough.' Then we can get back to pouring all of our energies into caring and nurturing the young children we are entrusted to look after.

Sue Davies Tregenna Castle Day Nursery, St Ives, Cornwall