“I work closely with children who have a range of additional needs and disabilities (medical conditions) and have repeatedly seen how beneficial it can be to get support to these children in the early years of their childhood. Sometimes the causes of behaviouse might not be immidiately obvious and parents can feel scared, worried or confused about whats happening, especially as sometimes these behaviours might not be socailly aceptable. The important message to get out to parents is that it is ok to ask for a professional opinion without it meaning you are a bad parent or you are failing in some way. Sometimes parents have experiences in their own childhood that help them to prepare for the difficult times of parenting and sometimes they dont have such good experiences, I think that is why they ask so much about the paretns background, so the nurses will be able to support parents to bring up their own children and enjoy doing it. This is the fundamental driver behind childrens services, to help families stay happily together, sometimes that means schools ad other organisations need to work at helping that happen. I have worked with so many children who are teenagers before anyone realised they had dyslexia, adhd, autism, dyspraxia, attachment disorders (i could go on) and their experiences of childhood are of being told they are stupid, not trying hard enough, never going to amount to a thing etc. if only they had someone who understood sooner they may not have ended up being a statistic on the asbo / excluded / drop out list. So the questionaire was poorly delivered in terms of giving reasons why it was being published and how it might be able to help, perhapse another way of delivering it could have made this easier but please please do not say someones head should roll for trying to do the right thing in geting young children exra support so they can enjoy their childhood, education and so that families do not have to struggle though tough ties alone and separate due to the stress this causes. Believe it or not there are still good people in this world and this may just have been done by one of those people wanting to support families.”

“That's it Emma, as soon as someone strays from your narrow interpretation of right/wrong why don't you patronise or insult them. If your razor sharp wit fails you again you could of course just pull them up on grammar and syntax.”

“"I cant see what the big deal is."

Excellent. Do not ever question authority, citizen. Your government is in control.”

“I cant see what the big deal is. These questions are obviously being asked for a reason and by experienced people. After all the school has a duty of care for these children whilst in school. If parents have nothing to hide whats the problem? Its only a questionnaire!”

“The compilation of such a detailed form and the cost of sending it out are outrageous. Who approved this? it is on the Sky website so has made national news. Why was a form not introduced asking parents if there were any issues the school should be aware of in ensuring the child's happy introduction to school life. I would ask the following questions...

1. Were other agencies involved in designing this questionairre?

2. Were parents left with the impression that they must complete the form?

3. Did the Data Protection Act apply and if so who was consulted?

4. Were parents informed of what would happen to the information submitted? For example would the police/ social services be informed if a parent indicated their child was continuously stealing? How safe would the information be - who would hold it - would referrals be made to others etc etc.

4. At what level of the Community Health Organisation was this questionairre approved?

5. Were Headteachers involved?

6. How could any organisation imply that they could cope with the problems that this questionairre raised.

This questionairre is a disgrace and as far as i am concerned contravenes the Human Rights Act, The Data Protection Act and goodness knows what else. Someone's head should roll.”

“Have you seen the questionnaire Lynn?”

“If I had children of school age (thankfully mine are not), I most certainly would not fill in this intrusive form. It would be filed in the round cabinet on the floor. I don't fill in any other questionaires come to that, it just opens the flood gates to junk mail by the lorry load.”

“Emma, no need to tell me to go back to sleep. We are entitled to our own opinion.
It could make parents think about the way their child behaves. Some people may criticise me for putting that but that is my opinion.
You dont have to fill the form in if you dont want to.”

“"Why is there such a big hoohaa about it."

Nothing. Go back to sleep, citizen. Your government is in control.”

“I received this aswell. I filled it in and sent it back, the only thing I couldn't seem the point to was asking me if I enjoyed going to school and what I achieved.
Why is there such a big hoohaa about it.”