There is no doubt that the early years sector faces a recruitment and retention issue. There has been a 94 per cent growth in the sector since 1997, increasing competition for staff in an already squeezed sector. In the last year 59 per cent of nurseries had trouble recruiting.
This is about to get worse. To meet the Government's expansion plans an extra 300,000 childcare staff are required over the next few years, of which 50 per cent must have NVQ Level 3, or equivalent.
High-quality staff are essential to cope with the increasingly complex work, including networking across sectors, while providing care and education in an inclusive environment.
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
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
