Many of you will have seen today's news and a report by "Save the children" claiming that many children are falling behind in language and are not ready for school. Whilst the report again stresses the importance of brain development, parental support and skilled staff, words such as failing, gaps, and falling behind, in my opinion, should not be used to describe young children's development. The recommendation of a teacher in each nursery is controversial and may be seen as divisive and unfair to those in nurseries who work day in, day out to care, nurture and educate the children in their care without teacher status and also in these difficult financial times for settings, financially impossible. The irony is that in my mind, is that we are all teachers if we support children to learn and develop. This isn't about level of qualification. It's about quality. I studied to be a nursery nurse many years ago and what I learned there about children, their development and the power of play far outweighed anything I learned on my teacher training years later. What we need are practitioners (including all teachers) who whatever their qualification understand child development and how it must influence their practice. I watched this issue being debated on the bbc this morning and the parents made some great points. I sent in an email and tweeted and both were read out live. Would recommend looking up today's victoria Derbyshire on I player and watching around 30 mins in.... Our children deserve the very best start, in schools and settings supported and educated by adults who tune into their needs and recognise where they are at in their development....and how to support them to progress when appropriate. We cannot simply plug gaps or force children to catch up in learning by giving them activities or putting them in catch up groups or buying in a franchise to run weekly groups. To make a difference we have to interact with them, let them know they are cared about, and give them time and space. There are of course children who have specific needs or difficulties but the skilled adult enables this child, and every other to reach their full potential always respecting where they are in their very own learning journey through their interactions. That is what teaching means! My message to parents...don't feel pressured to buy workbooks or go to expensive groups that promise to get your child ready for school and learning phonics....as a teacher of many years and a parent, I'm telling you its not needed, just do what you do..read, play and talk! Please, please, please keep sharing this petition and also the government version too. We need 100k signatures on that one to get debate even considered. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/121681