Talking of 'parents or carers' reminded me of something a reception teacher friend told me the other day. At the end of the day, the reception children all have to stay in the playground with her until they can see the person who has come to collect them, when they are permitted to leave. Up until a few years ago it was a chorus of, "I can see my mummy," with the occasional "daddy". Now it's all, "I can see my childminder", "I can see the au pair", etc etc. She says she only ever sees the parents at the special parents' days, if then. Quite sad I think, but an inevitable sign of the times.
