ANY working parent knows the value of good childcare.

Staying at home to look after pre-school age children is often not an option for mothers or fathers today.

As modern habits change, people move further from relatives and grandparents - who traditionally would help out - are either too far away or still working themselves.

Ever higher numbers of divorced couples mean that many parents are on their own and still needing to earn a living.

All of which often means that reasonable and reliable nursery places are at a premium. Parents need to know their child is receiving the best possible care in a safe and fun environment.

As the debate over working mums in particular grows, we hear of the wrench many parents experience at leaving their tot behind in the early morning before working an eight-hour day.

Once they find a place they know is secure and supported by well-trained staff, that place becomes an invaluable part of their life.

Anyone who witnessed scenes of insecure, badly-run nurseries on this week's Panorama programme will recognise just how important that knowledge is to a

parent.

Otley is fortunate to have at least one of those safe and caring nurseries at Wharfedale General Hospital. Parents cannot praise the Riverdale Nursery enough.

Unfortunately, others are not taking advantage of its places - possibly because many don't realise its existence - making it an expensive extra cost to the health

authority.

It would be a sad fate indeed if it were to close simply because it was not well-known. An important service would be gone for good, leaving several families counting the cost and taking it away from future generations.

ow Riverside Nursery has been given another chance to prove itself a success for the future. Let's hope more people take advantage of what it has to offer and prevent yet another facility being lost to Otley.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.