To counter Lizzie's doom and gloom about our education system, here's some extracts from the 2010 OFSTED Report on my daughter's school. She, and quite a few of the other pupils in the school, went to the local nursery from an early age. It was there that she learned to read before she went to school and is now on the Gifted and Talented Register in Literacy. The school takes a wide range of pupils with very different backgrounds. This, of course, is just one example, but I know from mrsleveller's 15 years' experience of organizing Helping in Schools and Special Educational Needs courses in schools, mainly in deprived areas, that it is not an isolated example. But, of course, this sort of thing doesn't make headlines in the Daily Mail or The Sun.

"This is an inclusive school, which has significant strengths in pastoral areas."
"Pupils make a good contribution to the school and wider community."
"Good levels of care, guidance and support have a positive impact on the personal development of pupils."
"Pupils feel safe and have an excellent understanding of how to live healthily."
"Class teachers, senior staff and governors continue to improve their communication with parents."
"Governors challenge appropriately and support well the life and work of the school."
"Recent improvements to the curriculum have made a positive impact on standards."
"Pupils thoroughly enjoy the wide range of activities the school provides and show enthusiasm for the many sporting activities that are available."
"Relationships in lessons between adults and pupils are good and help to engender good relationships between pupils."
"Teachers' increasingly effective use of assessment data to guide and support pupils is a growing strength."
"The curriculum is good. There is a good range of after school clubs and residential experience for older pupils, which makes a good contribution to enriching the curriculum."

Oh, and the school dinners aren't half bad, either.