THE concerns about uneven provision of early years children's pre-school care ("Calls to create more choice in nursery places", The Herald, May 25) continue to reflect Holyrood's ducking the issue of setting up a full-day nationwide professional early years learning and development programme which, while helping the child would also resolve the issue of parents being tied down by the insufficient hours allocated for state-subsidised care.
This Government has had quite a few years - and the money - to sort it out, using the Finnish model for example.
There is a real inequality issue here. The only way to sort locality differences and family variability is to set up top-quality provision available for all across the entire country.
Why there has been no central drive to do so is inexplicable. By now, equipping suitable premises and organising staff training should have given all our youngsters the pre-school boost they deserve.
Labour's Kezia Dugdale last year reportedly went to see Finland's system in action. Perhaps she could help to move things on.
Joe Darby ,
Glenburn,
St Martins Mill,
Cullicudden,
Dingwall.
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