With all the hullabaloo about the Conservatives' plans for 'free' schools, why can't this principle be applied to the early years sector ('Parents want local authority-run schools', News, 8 April)? In fact, it already is.
Based on choice, we have chosen, in the UK, to adopt a 'mixed economy' approach, a blend of mainly private providers with some state facilities for our youngest citizens. We support this with a complex system of subsidy for childcare places and parents.
As the Editor's View (29 April) notes, none of the parties seem to have a real insight, but the most worrying thing is that we see this model as the only way. If we look at our European partners and further afield, we see different arrangements associated with different thinking about children and childhood.
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