Nursery World - Call for investment in skilled workforce

Early years and childcare professionals from across England gathered at the National Day Nurseries Association conference in London last week to discuss the development of a professional and well-qualified workforce. Leading the debate on the challenges facing the sector was Norman Glass, a key instigator of Sure Start, who spoke on the conditions needed for the development of an early years profession.

Leading the debate on the challenges facing the sector was Norman Glass, a key instigator of Sure Start, who spoke on the conditions needed for the development of an early years profession.

Professor Glass, chief executive of the National Centre for Social Research and chair of Capacity, an early years consultancy and think tank, commented on the 'transformation in attitude since 1997', when the early years were hardly visible, to 2004, when six cabinet ministers had spoken about the early years at this year's Labour Party Conference.

Professor Glass said 'sustainability, inclusivity, and respectability' were the three themes he believed would contribute to the development of the early years profession.

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