I am concerned at the number of children affected by Attention Deficit Disorder.

Our large class sizes have failed many children. The active child who appears to lack concentration has the potential to be the dynamic entrepreneur as an adult.

Many criminals could have used their skills to great success with the right education (many are reported to have serious literacy problems).

When teaching young children suffering from lack of concentration or disruptive behaviour, I would often discover there were other issues in the child's life he or she was unable to cope with.

It would be helpful if all teachers and support workers studied psychology as part of their training and understood non-verbal communication.

Having taught under-fives for 20 years, I am appalled to hear of how young children, usually boys, are being victimised by an education system that has placed them into school at four years of age without meeting their emotional needs.

The pre-school playgroup movement provided one adult to eight children for under fives. But there can be 30 four-year-olds in the reception class with just two adults.

I resigned as a school governor when I saw the effects on four-year-olds in a class with six-year-olds.

The pressures placed on young children are totally unacceptable.

In Europe many children enter mainstream education at seven years old and pre-school provision is excellent in meeting the needs of the young child.

I taught many children who were violent and disruptive without ever labelling or punishing the child. They all left for infant school emotionally and educationally well adjusted.

-Councillor Anne Jones MBE, Burgess Hill