You're three and you don't know your times-tables??

Coincidentally, after writing yesterday's post, I became aware of a Government commissioned report which recommends that all childminders and nursery staff should be educated to A-level standard.  Why?  This is clear evidence that Government see childminding and nursery care being as much about education as about care.  Indeed the report uses the phrase "early education and care" over and over again.  I don't know about you, but I would wish than any young child of mine were looked after by a loving, caring minder who will give them a cuddle when they need it and get down on the floor and play with them, and it would be immaterial to me as to when they left school or what qualifications, if any, they got.  Child care is not (or should not be) about intellectual ability.