Nursery World - Childcare providers call for relaxation of qualifications to tackle staffing 'crisis'

An organisation of independent childcare providers in Ireland is calling for a temporary relaxation of the rules that all childcare staff be qualified to alleviate the sector ‘recruitment crisis’.

In its policy document, published this month, Seas Suas - a new national membership organisation representing independent early education and childcare providers - calls on the Government to relax for three years, the requirement from 100 per cent qualified staff to 75 per cent in a childcare setting, pending the introduction of a national apprenticeship scheme.

As of 31 December 2016, all staff working directly with children in Ireland must hold a minimum of a QQI Level 5 Major Award in Early Childhood Care and Education (FETAC) - equivalent to an NVQ Level 3.

While the organisation says it supports the developments towards formalising education and professionalising the sector, the ‘rigidity’ of the 100 per cent qualification is exacerbating a staffing crisis that is already crippling early childhood and care (EEC) providers.

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