SIR,

As Principal of Monmouth Montessori Nursery I would like to respond to your article dated 29th October on the County Council refusing to authorise early years funding to some private nurseries.

I agree that maintained settings tend to offer care for limited hours that may not suit working parents.

It would be helpful if the County Council were to take into account the number of places available at nurseries offering longer hours before withholding approval of new provisions. We need a variety of childcare options to take into account parents' varying lifestyles.

This is not the only time that we have read that there is only one day care setting in Monmouth approved for early years vouchers and with trained teachers – we have both.

Indeed our setting is approved for early years funding and our opening times are flexible for working parents. We are in close proximity to Monmouth town and many of our parents travel to us from the town and surrounding areas. I shall follow this situation with interest.

Rosemary Whaley

(Principal-Llangattock School with Monmouth Montessori Nursery)