Opinion: Letters

EYSFF sheds light on the real world

I have been reading with interest about the worries that school nurseries have about the Early Years Single Funding Formula (EYSFF). As secretary of a charity-run nursery for the past 16 years, I would say to them, 'Welcome to the real world!'

Settings such as ours have faced unfair competition from local school nurseries for years. We are funded only for the number of places that we fill each term, we can offer only 12.5 hours free nursery education and we receive a lower payment than that enjoyed by a school nursery, which receives full payment regardless of how many places they fill.

Nevertheless, we are still required to offer the same level of education as a school nursery, keep some places free and offer a higher adult:child ratio. We have, therefore, to employ more staff than a school nursery would, as well as meet other costs such as rent, registration and insurance, and keep all of our equipment up to date.

Also unlike a school nursery, we only receive payment each term after proving how many places we have filled. When it comes to Ofsted inspections, we receive no notice at all, while a school nursery has up to two weeks' warning.

So, I would say to school nurseries: I am sorry that you may have to cut staff numbers, but then you will discover what the 'real world' is. Let us hope that the EYSFF is implemented so that we can all be competing on the same level.

Name and address supplied

- Letter of the Week wins £30 worth of books.

This letter was received ahead of the DCSF decision to delay implementation of the EYSFF until 2011.

THE RIGHT TEACHER

I totally agree with Clare Bush (Letters, 3 December) that many teachers delivering the EYFS are not trained to work in early years. And, as a trained early years teacher (now retired) with 35 years' teaching experience, both as a deputy head of a maintained nursery school and as a Foundation Stage manager in a large primary school, I would conclude that many primary head teachers don't help the situation.

They are often unaware of the importance of quality play opportunities and view inexperienced teachers as a 'body in the class at a cheap rate', even though these teachers may not be suitably trained to deliver the EYFS.

So, if having to choose between a cheap and inexperienced applicant on the one hand and an experienced, well qualified, but more expensive, applicant on the other, head teachers will invariably go for the cheaper option. Their choice is based on the misguided notion that 'anyone can teach the babies', as I've often been told by misguided colleagues during my career.

I think primary school heads and their staff, politicians and journalists, to name but a few, need to be made aware of exactly what young children need, what training early years staff needs and what staff (and children) do on a daily basis.

I'm fed up with people being steered towards childcare options as an 'easy ride'. It takes a particular type of person to work with younger children - just as I'd never choose to work with older children, because I don't have the personal qualities for that job.

Sue Stanford, West Midlands

IN THE DOG HOUSE

Our campaign against dog mess in the grounds adjoining Crosslet nursery was the children's idea (News, 24 September), but not all dog owners have been supportive.

Several wrote nasty letters, calling us 'anti-dog' and irresponsible for placing small wooden sticks with flags into the ground to highlight the mess. Some even threatened to send us the vet's bills if their dogs were injured by the sticks.

Now, however, we have dog bins and an endless supply of POO bags, provided by West Dunbarton Council. The children have noticed that more dog owners are using the bags, which are attached to the fence, along with thank-you letters from the children.

Anne Marie McGuinness, Halo Nurseries, Dumbarton

- Send your letters to ... The Editor, Nursery World, 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP, letter.nw@haymarket.com, 020 8267 8401.