Recruitment into the early years sector has reached crisis point. A survey from education professionals union Voice Community, published in June, found early years staff do not feel valued due to low pay and inadequate and inconsistent funding.
The pandemic has exacerbated what was already an unsustainable situation. ‘It has hit us like I have never known it,’ says Lucy Whitehead, owner of two settings. She opened Rainbow Corner Nursery School in Windlesham, Surrey in August, and says it has been particularly hard to recruit staff for it. ‘We had to open lower than capacity,’ she says.
‘When the pandemic hit, the pressures put on an already low-paid sector forced people out of the profession,’ says Letitia McCalla, early years lead and professional officer at Voice Community.
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