The Government's childcare recruitment campaign to meet New Labour's childcare and early education promises - two very different things - has made life unreal for the early years sector.
Unfortunately many candidates coming forward to fill these roles are non-academic. Their educational achievements and underlying attitudes have not readied them for the study and research that should be undertaken by anyone training to work in childcare. Some find it a struggle to understand basic child development, theories of good practice and child psychology, and regard with suspicion the idea of a curriculum for the early years.
It takes ages to become an experienced childcarer who can offer a quality service. Even a superb, intuitive trainee who finishes NVQ 2 a year after entering the profession will take another two years to become experienced in group care.
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