Caroline Stagg (Letters, Children Now, 22-28 September) is not alone in her surprise at the lack of serious challenge to the extended schools initiative in the media.

When the Government asked children about their priorities, "more fun places to go and things to do" came top. This was belatedly recognised in a Lords amendment to include "recreation" in the Children Bill. But spending up to 10 hours a day at school was not what children - nor I dare say their Lordships - had in mind. A "flexible, personalised childcare package", as Charles Clarke describes it, offers choice to parents, not children.

Unless the Government now confirms its election promise of a 200m lottery fund for outdoor play, based on the excellent Dobson Report on how the money should be spent, this increased emphasis on extended schools will be seen as further evidence of how disinterested this Government really is in what children actually want.

Adrian Voce, director, London Play.