There are lessons to be learned on nursery schools

‘Sure Start went a long way to ensuring that children were given opportunities to thrive,’ writes Carolyn Meggitt. Photograph: Andrew Fox/Alamy

I broadly welcome plans by Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary, to improve education for the under-fours (Labour wants graduate-led nurseries to fight equality, p1, 3 July). However, I feel that the emphasis she places on graduate teachers in the early years is misplaced. We also need a well-trained and educated workforce to provide the holistic care and education promise.

Having worked in nursery care and education for many years, and co-written textbooks for students, I believe that those entering the sector already receive a firm grounding in all aspects of early years education. The main emphasis in all these programmes is children learning through play.