Outstanding practice in all sectors

I would like to challenge the flawed arguments Mr Greer puts forward to suggest that teacher led Nursery education is the gold standard form of preschool education that every parent and child deserves.

Mr Greer uses research, the Education and Training Inspectorate and parent numbers to support his view that nursery education is the best form of preschool provision. In so doing he is misrepresenting both research and the Education and Training Inspectorate.

If parents want to know what is the best form of preschool education in the Lisburn Area they should read the Education and Training Inspectorate inspection reports and there they will see that there is outstanding practice in the voluntary and independent sectors as well as in the statutory sector.

Nowhere does the Education and Training Inspectorate suggest that the best practice is found only in nursery schools and units. Mr Greer also suggests that parents are voting with their feet with 15,900 parents having chosen nursery schools in 2011. However he failed to note that parents of 32,500 children have chosen the voluntary and independent sectors.

Parents should refer to the admissions booklet provided by the South Eastern Education and Library Board in which they will find information on all the providers in the Lisburn area who currently have funded preschool places.

All of these preschools and full day care nurseries provide exactly the same high quality curriculum and opportunities for learning, creativity and fun that a Nursery School provides and will be happy to support parents make the right choice for their children.

We professionals need to be careful that we do not unnecessarily alarm or misinform parents about lack of funded preschool provision when this is obviously not the case in Lisburn. We need to make sure that the transition from home to preschool is as easy and positive as possible and for this reason my organisation is providing useful tips for parents on how to select appropriate childcare and early education on the ‘Parents’ section of our website at www.early-years.org.

It would be my hope that given the recent and ongoing commitment from the Northern Ireland Executive to invest in preschool education and care that all parents and children in the Lisburn area will be able to find the most appropriate place for their child this year.

Siobhán Fitzpatrick

Chief Executive Officer, Early Years - the organisation for young children