Child care: low pay message hits home

Child care workers are paid substantially less than others with
similar qualifications in other fields, 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 child care sector last
month.

It found that low pay and low status makes it difficult for
child care providers to attract and keep staff

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.

It also suggests 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, for example, “practitioner” and greater
emphasis on aspects of the work relating to education and
development.

– See
www.dfes.gov.uk/research

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