Better pay needed to solve childcare workforce crisis

Childcare workers are paid substantially less than others with
similar qualifications in other fields, and their low pay combined
with low status makes it difficult for childcare providers to
attract and keep staff, according to new research for the
Department for Education and Skills.

The study, Recruitment and Retention of Childcare Early Years
and Playworkers by researchers from the National Institute of
Economics and social Research, follows the launch of a major
government recruitment campaign in the childcare sector last
month.

The report recommends increased pay across the sector,  reduced
hours in private day nurseries, improved career structure in all
parts of the sector, greater encouragement for training, and
opportunities to train during working hours, greater use of ‘family
friendly’ policies in day nurseries, free or subsidised nursery
places for staff children, higher status across the sector,
possibly through a change in job titles, eg
“practitioner” and greater emphasis on aspects of the
work relating to education and development. www.dfes.gov.uk/research