I DO not wish to prolong an unnecessary wrangle with Mrs Threader. We apologised for a mistake made in good faith, accepted the 'blame' and can still not see what has been rectified by publicity.

I am happy to answer her questions. The playleaders invariably have experience working with children; we take up references and have police checks.

We frequently have student teachers and this year's complement included a newly-qualified teacher.

The proof of the pudding, they say, is in the eating. I was happy for my own daughter to attend the schemes, as was Mrs Threader for the first three weeks.

The ratio of staff to children at Greenbank was normally around one to six and never more than one to 10 I imagine this compares favourably with most schools.

We have difficulty in finding premises at all, let alone any which would be adequate for our needs. in the case of Greenbank, the facilities, or lack of them, are well known and we did remind parents by letter that we would need to send children home if the weather was poor.

A requirement to provide premises would not just reduce the numbers of children who attend, but reduce the numbers of schemes from eight to two. The schemes do not claim to be ideal, but we do offer something which I would hope is considerably better than the alternatives.

Arthur Neil,

General Secretary, Vale Royal CVS.

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