Nursery World - Opinion divided on flexible working

Reports that the Government may row back from extending the right to seek flexible working have been met with a mixed reaction from charities, childcare organisations and nursery providers.

Gill Smith, who runs the Gooseberry Bush Day Nursery in Camborne,Cornwall, said it 'would help immensely if people were not on flexibleworking' and that when the nursery fills up and has 80 childrenattending part time it is 'something of a nightmare'.

She explained, 'It is the coming and going and working out which bit ofcare is funded and which isn't that is a growing problem.'

However, the Family and Parenting Institute (FPI) said that if BusinessSecretary of State Lord Mandelson postpones next April's plannedextension of the right to request flexible working to parents of allchildren up to 16, it would be 'a major setback for many families'.

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