In short, before I withdraw from talking in favour of doing (or at this point sleeping), I need to say that the council will not fund free schools or be asked to handle their funding and a local council cannot veto a free school application. However, we are working with the council very directly. I'm not sure exactly how else to make the point so I hope this doesn't also qualify as "journalist speak." It's just plain fact.

Secondly, there are many parents who are supporting our plans for a Montessori school. Indeed, many more than we could ever hope to accommodate in a single building. Montessori has in fact informed the development of Early Years Foundation Stage and, in other parts of the world, is widely accepted as mainstream. It is not a danger to our children's education but a holistic, nurturing approach that helps children of all abilities gain confidence and a love of learning.