Nursery World - Recruitment: Part 1

In the first of a new series on strategies for coping with the current severe shortage of staff, Charlotte Goddard sets out the key barriers facing the childcare sector

Download the pdf of this article

Cheryl McCarthy, resourcing manager at The Co-operative Childcare, has worked in the sector for 20 years. ‘I have never seen anything like it – we are in crisis,’ she says. ‘There just aren’t the people out there. We get CVs and I recognise the names immediately, because people are bouncing from one provider to another – there is no new blood.’

Despite the current pressures imposed on the sector’s very viability by 30 hours and rising costs, a lack of staff is, for many, the number-one obstacle for early years settings.

Osha Daley, senior recruitment executive at Daisy Chain Childcare Recruitment, agrees, ‘Fewer people are coming into the sector. Employers are likely to be competing over one person who has five job offers.’

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