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Nurseries 'pose risk to children' Nurseries 'pose risk to children'
(10 minutes later)
Sending very young children to inadequate day nurseries could lead them to develop behavioural problems, a group of childcare experts has warned.Sending very young children to inadequate day nurseries could lead them to develop behavioural problems, a group of childcare experts has warned.
In a letter to the Daily Telegraph they call for an "urgent national debate" to ensure children with working mothers receive the most appropriate care.In a letter to the Daily Telegraph they call for an "urgent national debate" to ensure children with working mothers receive the most appropriate care.
They accept many nurseries strive to provide "continuity in personalised care-giving" but say many fall short.They accept many nurseries strive to provide "continuity in personalised care-giving" but say many fall short.
Signatories included psychologists, authors and former teachers.Signatories included psychologists, authors and former teachers.
The letter stated: "Consistent, continuous care by a trusted figure is the key to providing a secure and nurturing environment for very young children.The letter stated: "Consistent, continuous care by a trusted figure is the key to providing a secure and nurturing environment for very young children.
"Research suggests that its absence can lead to behavioural difficulties in children as they grow older.""Research suggests that its absence can lead to behavioural difficulties in children as they grow older."
'Risk factors''Risk factors'
Author Sue Palmer, who signed the letter, told the BBC that during the first six to nine months of their lives children needed to develop a "secure attachment".Author Sue Palmer, who signed the letter, told the BBC that during the first six to nine months of their lives children needed to develop a "secure attachment".
This attachment should be to "one person in their life who they know they can trust, who will be there for them all the time and isn't going to go away".This attachment should be to "one person in their life who they know they can trust, who will be there for them all the time and isn't going to go away".
The government should make it easier for parents to use their child-care allowances to pay a grandmother or other relative to look after their children Sir Richard BowdlyThe government should make it easier for parents to use their child-care allowances to pay a grandmother or other relative to look after their children Sir Richard Bowdly
"If the child is securely attached then quite often they make lots of other attachments to other people and can be quite happy going off to nursery," she said."If the child is securely attached then quite often they make lots of other attachments to other people and can be quite happy going off to nursery," she said.
But research carried out by Sir Richard Bowdly - another of the letter's signatories - suggested about 40% of toddlers in the UK and US did not develop this secure attachment. Research carried out by Sir Richard Bowdly - another of the letter's signatories - suggested about 40% of toddlers in the UK and US did not develop this secure attachment.
Failing to form these attachments could cause difficulties for children if they were later sent to nurseries, according to Ms Palmer. Ms Palmer added: "One of the problems with institutionalised care is very often there's a lot of different people, so the child doesn't know that there's one there that's especially for it."
"One of the problems with institutionalised care is very often there's a lot of different, so the child doesn't know that there's one there that's especially for it," she said.
Sir Richard told the Telegraph the government should not encourage mothers back to work by funding day-care schemes until a proper discussion has been held.Sir Richard told the Telegraph the government should not encourage mothers back to work by funding day-care schemes until a proper discussion has been held.
"The government should make it easier for parents to use their child-care allowances to pay a grandmother or other relative to look after their children," he said."The government should make it easier for parents to use their child-care allowances to pay a grandmother or other relative to look after their children," he said.
Other signatories included actor Tom Conti, Professor Allan Schore from the University of California and Steve Biddulph, author of Raising Babies.Other signatories included actor Tom Conti, Professor Allan Schore from the University of California and Steve Biddulph, author of Raising Babies.