The EYP section of Aspect (Association of Professionals in Education and Children's Trusts) has published a template letter on its website.
It says that problems with recruitment and retention and the shortage of men in the early years workforce are all linked to poor wages and a lack of career structure. It adds that most practitioners who have achieved EYPS are only earning between £8 and £9 an hour and have no career structure, no agreed pay arrangements and no entitlements to ongoing professional development.
The letter states, 'If the drive to bring new graduate expertise and leadership into the early years is not to wither, like so many previous attempts to tackle issues connected with this sector, it is essential that these issues are addressed with urgency.'
Aspect presented a briefing paper to the Department for Children, Schools and Families in April. Based on the experiences of 300 EYPs, it said pay levels were unacceptably low.
It also said there was a gulf between the Government's view of EYPs as 'graduate leaders' and the perception of their status by local authorities, teacher colleagues and potential employers (News, 16 April).
Helen Willis, Aspect's national lead for EYPs, said, 'I have just been told about a job advert where a cleaner was being offered £1 more per hour than a nursery nurse. We want all early years workers to push for a proper career structure and appropriate pay and recognition.
'It's unreasonable to expect parents to pay for this via their fees so there needs to be proper input from local and central government. We are also encouraging anyone to sign our petition on pay structures.'
- The letter can be downloaded at www.aspect.org.uk/eyp.
