Education Letter: Agony in the early years

MAUREEN O'CONNOR'S thoughtful article ("The worst years of their lives?", Education, 25 February) continues the doubts about the direction of the Government's early years education policy.

As the parents of a three-and-a-half-year-old we are watching with horror and disbelief as young children are pushed towards formal education when all available evidence indicates that it is harmful to the long-term development of children. Why are enlightened parents and teachers allowing this trend to continue?

They say there is none so blind as he who cannot see. For the sake of all our young children, Mr Blunkett and the policy makers in his department must be made to see that they are wrong.

TOM FARRAND &

LIEVE VANMEERT

farrand@super.net.uk