Nursery World - Nursery Management: Leadership

The Government's graduate targets mean nurseries will tread a fine line between meeting requirements and protecting morale, says Mary Evans.

The drive for a graduate-led early years profession means nurserymanagers are increasingly supervising staff who are effectively betterqualified.

In many settings, it is the deputy manager who is studying for an EarlyYears Foundation Degree (EYFD) or attaining Early Years ProfessionalStatus, while answering to a manager who holds a level 3 or 4qualification.

Some managers can feel undermined and that their career prospects havebeen compromised, while the graduate can feel that their achievementsare not being recognised. This situation, unless handled carefully, canprovoke conflict, destabilise the team and damage morale.

How can employers ensure that in the race to realise the Government'svision of a graduate in every setting by 2015, they maintain a balanced,stable team?

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included