Opinion: Letters

PARENTS HAVE RIGHT TO DECIDE

Born on 6 December 2007, our child was due to start school in August2012. Upon requesting to defer her school start, we were informed thatshe would need to be assessed by an educational psychologist and thatshe would have to attend pre-school nursery until starting school.

I relented and agreed that she would start school this year but when mymanager, who lives in another region, was allowed to defer her child whois also born in December, we contacted the council again to challengeits decision.

I obtained the deferral procedure and searched the Scottish Governmentwebsite. I found a paper published in 2011 which stated that parentshave the right to defer their child from starting school. I contactedthe author and was informed of the legal position. I found a lawyer whoadvised that it is not the council's decision but the parents.

I felt empowered so I wrote another letter to the council telling themwhat was to happen and they conceded. Our child is starting school nextAugust 2013 and we are so glad that we challenged this.

Lynne Burt, Dunfermline

Our star letter wins 30 worth of books

FAST TRACK QTS IS INSULT TO EYPS

We are well aware that many EYPs feel short-changed in terms ofbelieving that once qualified we would become teachers of early yearsand that for many like myself, who were excited to be raising thestandard within early years, the lack of support and recognition hasleft a sour taste in our mouths.

I am confident that the sound knowledge base of the EYP programme meansthat we are pedagogical leaders and most definitely teachers of earlyyears. As EYPs we raise the bar among our staff, demonstrating,supporting and influencing best practice. We are preparing children frombirth to five years in all areas and ensuring that on leaving, not onlyhave they all made significant gains in terms of their starting pointsbut they certainly have 'school readiness'.

I am disappointed that we are being offered a fast-track option to QTSand feel that this sends a message loud and clear that there is a needfor QTS and that EYPs therefore fall short.

All EYPs need to stand up and be counted. We need to shout from therooftops that we are teachers and that we have a far better and morespecialised role working with pre-school children.

Rebekah Clee, Hawthorn Day Nursery, Huddersfield

NETWORK SUPPORTS IDEA OF NEW TEACHERS

The Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network welcomes many aspects ofwhat is proposed in 'Foundations for Quality'. We appreciate the shiftin emphasis towards meeting the early childhood education and care anddevelopment needs of young children and we endorse the recognition ofthe importance of good quality leadership and pedagogy. In particular,we applaud the recognition of the Early Childhood Studies Degree in thefuture development of graduate professional roles in the earlyyears.

However, we have concerns that the report might lead to the re-emergenceof an unhelpful Level 6 teacher/Level 3 carer divide that is notconducive to a pedagogy that we believe should encompass both educationand care.

We support the recommendation of the introduction of a new kind ofspecialist 0-7 teacher and believe our Network is in a strong positionto help introduce it and make it work. We welcome the recognition thatan Early Childhood Studies Degree would provide a relevant initialdegree for such a teacher.

Given the limitations of current teacher education in terms of theyoungest children, especially the 0-3s, we consider that existingteachers who want to teach/work with the 0-7 range should also haveaccess to the content of such a degree, possibly through an EarlyChildhood Studies Masters or through continuing professionaldevelopment. We would also suggest identifying a post-qualifying routefor existing early years teachers that uses the nationally agreedcontent for the Early Childhood Studies degree to underpin it.

We are also concerned not to disadvantage those who have become EYPs andto recognise the considerable contribution that they are making to workwith young children and their families.

Hence we also believe that it is important that EYPS and Early ChildhoodStudies graduates are able to access affordable and manageable routes tobecoming the new kind of early years teacher that is proposed.

Pamela Calder (chair) on behalf of The Early Childhood Studies DegreesNetwork.

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