The letters featured last week under the heading “Five-years-old is no age for an audit” (December 10) represent the views of most of us who are involved in the early years sector.

Pisa conveyed our falling worldwide performance ranking and confirmed Finland again as one of the top-performing countries. Children in Finland do not start formal education until they are seven, while our children are among the youngest in the world. In Finland, children are encouraged to co-operate and collaborate, not compete.

Marie Charlton, Advisory consultant, Early Excellence Training and Resource Centre.