In reply to Fiona Leesley ('What about dad?', June 29) I do collect my daughter from the out-of-school club. However, like many parents, I am unable to be at the school gates because of my work.

Because of York's low wage economy, like many, I have to work outside of the city. Others are in a similar situation because of the type of work they do. In today's society, out-of-school clubs play an important role. Populations are transient so people do not always have family to support them which used to be the form of care. If parents, particularly mothers, did not work who would fill the gaps in the employment market, especially in nursing, teaching, caring and the public sector? How would many charities survive?

My experience is that children enjoy the clubs and benefit from them.

Iain Simpson-Laing

Salisbury Road, York.

Updated: 10:59 Friday, July 01, 2005