GEOFF BULMER (HAS, June 5) deems it appropriate to ask parents to identify their religion on an entry information form for a four-year-old about to enter a non-faith school, on the grounds that this “is part of the profile a school needs and should be aware of”.

He gives no reason for this “need” because, of course, there are no reasons. It is all white noise.

Is my grand-daughter to be treated differently in some way if her parents are of this or that faith, or none? Is there a special educational need here somewhere?

Of course not.

The school will be interested in whether the little girl recognises numbers and letters, knows how to handle a book and use a pencil, can she sing a song or recite a nursery rhyme, has she an adequate vocabulary and has she been taught the idea of empathy. Also, does she arrive in the morning reasonably clean and tidy with no more than the usual odd cut or bruise you expect on a lively kiddie?

All this, and more, would be of interest to the school staff and most of this would be perfectly obvious within a week of arriving.

In fact the little girl mentioned in my original letter (HAS, June 4) has attended the school’s nursery for a year, so there is nothing new to be learned anyway.

So, I ask again, what on earth has the parents’ religion got to do with anything. I don’t imply any ulterior motives in the school. It’s just plain daft. That’s all.

Name and address supplied.