In our experience, the majority of teachers working with children under the age of seven have virtually no knowledge of child development and acknowledge this fact. But current training is beginning to address the issue.
It is not fair to state that nursery nurses have less knowledge and fewer skills than teachers. Each needs to be judged on merit. For example, I am a nursery nurse with a teaching qualification and a degree-level edu-cation in another subject area. I am also a nursery manager and former Ofsted inspector.
Nursery nurses should be provided with continual professional development and have a good level of education. The same should be the case for teachers in the early years sector. For example, is it appropriate for a teacher to have a history degree, work in banking for ten years and then obtain a PGCE in one year to teach Year One?
There are many people who have excellent qualifications, limited experience and no common sense - I have employed some of them in the past. It is not all about paper qualifications. Some people look good on paper but are a liability and are not successful team players. Please look at the overall picture.
Let's stop this debate about who is better. We need to work together using whatever skill mix we have for the good of the young children in our care.
Christine Richardson, nursery manager, Egham, Surrey
