Nursery leaders round on Truss criticism

The sector spoke out after Truss used an interview with the Daily Mail to accuse the nation's under-fives of having “no sense of purpose” and compared them to children in French nurseries who had “good manners”.

“What you notice in French nurseries is just how calm they are. All of their classes are structured and led by teachers. It’s a requirement,” said Truss.

“They learn to socialise with each other, pay attention to the teacher and develop good manners, which is not the case in too many nurseries in Britain.”

She said of the UK nurseries: “Free-flow play is not compulsory, but there is a belief across lots of nurseries that it is. I have seen too many chaotic settings, where children are running around. There’s no sense of purpose.”

She also said children as young as two in France were expected to greet their teacher when they entered the room.

June O’Sullivan, chief executive of the childcare charity and social enterprise the London Early Years Foundation, said she was “shocked” by the comments.

“When she came to our nurseries she commented on how nicely behaved the children were,” said O’Sullivan.

“Her comments show a failure to understand pedagogy. It’s terrifying that our minister, who’s leading the sector, doesn’t get how children learn.”

O’Sullivan travelled to France in February to research French early years provision after Truss indicated the government’s childcare reforms were modelled on the country’s system.

“She’s not comparing like with like,” said O’Sullivan.