Most parents using childcare want to see more men working in the sector, according to a recent survey by the Children's Workforce Development Council.
Currently around 3,000 men work in the sector, making up just 2 per cent of the workforce.
The CWDC survey found that 55 per cent of parents wanted to see men working in their child's nursery, while two-thirds of lone mothers said they would like a man to be involved in the care and development of their young children.
Four men work at the Paint Pots nurseries in Southampton, says David Wright, who runs the chain with his wife Anna. Apart from Mr Wright, who has attained Early Years Professional Status, the men on the team are his son Joseph, who works part time, Ben Haigh, who runs the baby unit at the chain's Swaythling setting, and David O'Mahoney, who is studying to be a child psychotherapist and works a day a week at each of the four nurseries.
According to Mr Wright, men and women play differently with the children. 'It is intrinsic. It is not a sexist thing,' he says. 'It may be that men are more prepared to play physically; perhaps men are more willing to go outside and throw a ball about. I don't want to generalise, but I think men and women do things differently.
'Children love men. When I walk into a room it is as if I have Velcro on my legs - the children rush up and attach themselves. It is not that they don't like the ladies who are looking after them. Some children do not have a stable male figure in their lives so they are missing out. When I see Ben, David or my Joseph in action they are like the Pied Piper.'
Music therapy
David O'Mahoney trained originally as a classical musician. He came to the nursery to gain early years experience and because of his background he is able to provide music therapy - particularly with some of the more challenging children. Some parents have changed their children's hours so they can be at the nursery when David is there.
'Parents like it that there are men working in our nurseries,' says Mr Wright. 'They like it that both Anna and I are involved.'
Mr Wright believes it is important to get a balance in the workforce. It can be quite daunting for a man coming into what can seem a woman's world. Having some men in the team can lighten the atmosphere.'
He says, 'David said it can be quite lonely being a male in childcare and he missed interaction with male colleagues. To address this I have got involved with the re-invigorated Men in Childcare Network Across Europe.
'As far as staff duties are concerned, gender is not an issue. I change nappies, mop floors, carry trays. We all do the same level of work towards the same end.'
In Southampton there have been initiatives to attract men into childcare, but while there was some interest, no men were appointed to a nursery job as a result.
Mr Wright says, 'The trouble is men don't tend to apply. It comes down to money. Men are not desperate to get into childcare. If they were, we would be happy to have more of them but only on the basis that we pick the best person for the job. We pay regardless of someone's gender. I certainly would not pay a premium for men because that would be illegal.
He adds, 'Hopefully the development of Early Years Professionals will raise the status of practitioners and that may attract more men.'
Bacon sandwiches
Paint Pots has 'Dads' Breakfasts' once a year at each of the nurseries. They are for whoever is the significant male in a child's life. They are held on a Saturday morning in the warmer weather and the fathers come along with their children because they know there will be other men there.
'We give them a bacon sandwich or a croissant and set up some activities,' says Mr Wright. 'The children love to show them.
'Once you have engaged on a social level with people, while obviously still maintaining your professionalism, it establishes those links that go to build up a good relationship. It is much easier to deal with any issues that might arise because you have those links. The men feel part of the nursery and find it easier to communicate with us.'
CASE STUDY
Being a rarity, a man in childcare, has been a benefit to his career, says Ben Haigh, who runs the baby unit at the Paint Pots Swaythling nursery.
'I have never experienced any form of prejudice because I am a man working in childcare. In some ways it has been an advantage. I am sure it has helped me get some jobs. On one occasion I was interviewed along with about 20 women who mostly were more experienced than me, but I got the job.
'I get on with all the jobs like changing nappies. I know of a man working somewhere else where one of the parents got a bit funny about him changing nappies but I have never had anything like that.
'I don't miss working with men because I have always got on well with women. I am not the type of guy who really loves football or who is deeply into cars but I do miss the guy's take on things. Sometimes I will think about something completely differently to my female colleagues. Actually, it is probably quite helpful to get the differing views on issues from the male and female perspectives.
'Men are a minority in this sector. I have been in nurseries where there has not been another man and that was a bit lonely, but it was not a real hardship for me.
'I have been in early years for six years. I have the CACHE diploma and am working towards my foundation degree. When I left school, after taking my GCSEs, I was unsure what to do. My best friend got the registration form for the CACHE diploma course behind my back. She said I was really good with the children in my family so I went to the college to see what it was like and have stuck with it.
'I was the only boy on the course so there was extra pressure. At my interview the tutor said there was a guy the year before who had done really well. I felt they were expecting similar things from me.
'I started working at the nursery where I went on placement. Then I worked for an agency for two years in different places but particularly as a teaching assistant in a primary school. I then got a job as a room leader in a nursery and then moved down here to Southampton from my home town of Gravesend.
'When I joined Paint Pots, I worked first in the pre-school and had become familiar with the Paint Pots way by the time the leader of the baby room was about to leave. I approached Anna Wright to ask if I could do the job.
'Until then I had not spent much time with babies. I had always been assigned to the toddler room or pre-school without being asked. I was looking for a new challenge. I made the switch in March last year. I love it and would not change for anything.
'I think the fathers are more willing to communicate with me. They are sometimes unsure about how to talk to the women on the team.
'Working with babies is exciting. You see them through so many developmental stages. I appreciate for parents, especially first-time parents, to leave their baby with me is a great privilege and responsibility. It is lovely when the parents come in and say "he stood up at the weekend". It is wonderful to share that with the parents.'
