In its election manifesto 2015, Voice, the union for education professionals, early years and childcare, calls for the extension of regulatory powers to include nannies.
Currently, nannies are not required to register with Ofsted and do not receive inspections. Voluntary regulation is only required where parents wish to claim childcare tax credit.
Regulating nannies through compulsory registration, says the union, would help nannies to see themselves as childcare professionals within the workforce, provide assurance to parents, as well as ensure quality assurance and safeguarding of children.
The union also claims that the regulation of nannies would further promote the role of the nanny as a ‘solid’ career option within childcare.
Voice’s manifesto also recommends the next Government commission research on the terms and conditions of employment of private and voluntary sector childcare workers, as it says that childcare workers are among the lowest paid in the country and have limited opportunities for promotion.
The aims of the research would be to establish the range of terms and conditions of pay and employment of qualified childcare staff to establish a benchmark position.
The manifesto states, ‘There is no benchmark for terms and conditions of employment and salary against which PVI childcare providers can compare or aspire to.
‘The low-level of funding for the free entitlement, in addition to the impact of the recent recession and austerity cuts, has had a further impact on the terms and conditions of childcare workers and their salary prospects.
‘Without a benchmark to aspire to or the funding and investment from Government, this is a difficult task for employers.’
Other priorities outlined in the union’s manifesto include:
- a commitment to set-up and implement a national pay and conditions structure for all school support staff;
- reducing teacher and head teacher workload and promoting work-life balance for all education staff;
- fair treatment of all staff subject to safeguarding allegations or under investigation for disqualification by association.
Tricia Pritchard, senior professional officer at Voice, said, 'We have been campaigning for the compulsory registration of nannies for many years and are not prepared to give up on this, particularly as families are looking more at nannies as a flexible childcare option.
'However despite nannies being a growing area of the workforce, they are still unregulated, potentially putting children at risk. There needs to be a system in place to remove nannies from childcare if there is a problem. At the moment, nannies who are dismissed by one employer can easily move to another family.
'Parents put a lot of trust in that the nanny is who she says she is, and that the nanny agency have carried out checks.
'Currently nannies also face a lack of career opportunities and advancement of training. There is no recognised salary structure or employment package, and the majority work 40-50 hour weeks.
'Nannies should be regulated like nurseries and childminders.'
