As a parent and a child minder I was appalled to read Ms Chris Gale's comments in Thursday's edition of the Evening Advertiser laying the blame at the feet of children with additional and special needs for affecting the schools results.

If I was a parent of any of the children attending Ridgeway I would be knocking on her door today for an explanation and asking for a public apology. Does Ridgeway not have access to funding for one-to-one keyworkers or an education support assistant (ESA)?

I would also very much like to ask Ms Gale what she meant by 'in some cases it comes down to childminding'. What does she see the role of a child minder as? I can assure you that myself and the other registered, approved and/or accredited childminders in Swindon are professional childcarers and that we offer the families and children in our care a supportive environment to enable the child to grow and develop skills regardless of gender, race, background or disability.

Does this woman not know how easy it is to damage a child's self esteem and confidence?

Obviously not I pity her for not recognising the children's positive qualities and for her to readily and publicly scapegoat them.

Dawn Roberts

Ridge Nether Moor

Liden,

Swindon