A report, Who will care?, launched by the Trust at the Labour Party conference in Brighton this week, puts childcare among the lowest-paid jobs in Britain, earning less than gardeners and cleaners. It says a day nursery manager earns an average of 13,000 to 14,000 a year, and a nursery school teacher up to 18,000.
However, a nursery nurse working in a private day nursery could earn as little as 8,000 a year, while a nursery nurse in a school setting would earn between 10,000 and 13,000. A childminder would net about Pounds 5,000 a year, while playworkers in breakfast clubs, out-of-school clubs and holiday playschemes earn between 6 and 8 an hour for between ten and 20 hours a week, rising to 8 to 10 an hour for co-ordinators.
The report said, 'If we value our children and want the best for them, we must respect and value those who look after them. Valuing staff means investing in increased levels of pay, improved access to training and qualifications, and the opening up of career paths to enable the childcare workforce to provide the best-possible services for our children. It is vital to raise the status of the profession to attract and retain an experienced and dynamic childcare workforce.'
Dave Prentis, general secretary of public service union Unison, which sponsored the report, said, 'Educating and caring for young children is a demanding and specialised profession and should be valued as such.' The National Day Nurseries Association welcomed the report, but said it did not go far enough. Chief executive Rosemary Murphy said, 'All nursery owners want to pay their staff more. The question is, how can they pay more unless they charge parents more for childcare? Salaries will not rise to a decent level unless more money comes in to day nurseries from somewhere.'
