Analysis: You don't learn about the world sitting at a computer

Quality time spent with the child is as important as formal education. We have to support parents to do this with their children, it's all very simple - reading, play activities, that sort of thing.

There's an increasing recognition that you have to get kids outside into the fresh air, learning about the world - you can't do that sitting in front of a TV screen or a computer.

They do it best by getting out and physically learning about the world.

We are de-skilling parents. There's a sense out there that only professionals know how to do these things. But sometimes parents can find they already know how. They have the capacity to make these things work for their families, but there's a reliance on services.

The focus needs to be about ensuring parents understand they do have the skills and, where they don't, that is where support services must come in.

Even then it's just about giving them the support and confidence to be good parents so, when their children go into formal education, they are already well down the road.

When a child sits down in P1, at five, really quickly the teacher can see what learning trajectory that child will go through.

If they don't get a good start, they are always playing catch-up. I think confidence plays a big part in it. For some parents it's almost like cooking - they are in the kitchen, but they don't have the confidence to cook without the recipe there in front of them.

On the subject of support mechanisms, one organisation we used to work with a lot was the Scottish Network for Parental Involvement in Children's Learning. They worked with early years groups, but that group disbanded because members lost their jobs and they could not get support.

So it seems a bitter irony that here we are, increasingly recognising the importance of early years, and at the same time we have a tranche of professionals who are not able to sustain their organisations and many are losing their jobs

I also agree with Professor Deacon that, with disclosure, we've gone too far. It is making children afraid and taking away their confidence and ability to cope with situations and learn from them.

• Eileen Prior is executive director of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council.