I recently attended the Family and Parenting Institute event with shadow education secretary Michael Gove (CYP Now, 23-29 January).
Although Gove was questioned about faith schools, there were other important issues parents such as myself wanted to raise but didn't get the chance on the day.
My question is: where is the support for mothers at home? Most of those who travelled to London for the event were mothers at home. There was a question about childcare during hospital stays but hardly any mention of childcare for the purposes of returning to work. I spoke to at least four parents who strongly agreed it was a shame that, yet again, this topic wasn't pursued in greater depth.
I think it is important for childcare workers to understand the passion many mothers feel about their choice to be at home and that the childcare agenda is given too much weight at the expense of support for day-to-day parenting.
Marie Peacock, mother
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT
I am writing in response to the article "Voluntary groups left out of talks" (CYP Now, 30 January-5 February). I would like to set the record straight in relation to East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
At the time, I was speaking as vice chair of the Rural Youth Network and chair of the Yorkshire and Humber Voluntary Youth Organisations Network, where I am aware some local authority areas do not always have strong partnerships with their voluntary and community sector.
I am surprised by this as statutory partners need to work with the third sector in order for them to provide the best services.
Indeed, the model we have in East Riding would be a good one to follow.
As project manager of its local council for voluntary youth services, I am completely happy and confident with the relationship and involvement that I and the voluntary and community sector have with our local statutory partners.
Detty Tyler, development worker, East Riding Voluntary Youth Services
BENEFITS OF A FREE BREAKFAST
I read with interest the Associate Parliamentary Food and Health Forum's calls for free breakfasts (CYP Now, 6-12 February).
As a leading exponent of breakfast clubs, ContinYou welcomes the forum's recognition of them as a way to give children a nutritional start to the day and the suggestion that the government supports breakfast club providers financially.
However, it is important to note that benefits of breakfast clubs go beyond the nutritional value. They are also an excellent way to meet social and learning needs. ContinYou therefore recommends any funding supports all aspects of breakfast clubs - not just the food element.
Eleanor Moore, breakfast club development manager, ContinYou
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