Commenting on a new analysis by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) on how poor pay and career progression in early years could impact the expansion of free childcare, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“This research is a testament to the dedication of early years professionals who love what they do. Families entrust them with the care and education of what matters most to them - their children and babies. It is not radical to suggest that with such a high level of responsibility should come decent terms of employment.
“Poor pay and working conditions are the inevitable result of providing childcare through private providers. Successive governments, including this one, have chosen to bury their heads in the sand rather than get to grips with the issues at hand. Now their flagship policies are at risk of failure.
“A growing reliance on public funding for childcare requires government accountability for ensuring decent pay and conditions and sector oversight. High quality public provision must be protected and expanded, with Maintained Nursery Schools (MNS) front and centre, so every child gets the best start in life, and every professional a fulfilling career.”