The report from the Fair Foundation, based upon a survey of 2,000 ‘nationally representative’ adults, finds that many people don’t realise how low wages are for people working in the sector, overestimating hourly pay by an average of 47 per cent (£10.92 compared to £7.42).
It reveals that 73 per cent agree that early years workers need to be valued as much as other staff in the education sector and they should be paid enough to 'get by'.
The finding also show that two in three respondents are worried about the costs of early years provision, but they underestimate how expensive childcare is in the UK compared to other countries.
When asked to guess where the UK ranks among OECD countries in terms of childcare costs, the average guess was 14th most expensive out of 38 countries. The Fair Foundation says that the UK is actually the joint most expensive country for childcare, with costs accounting for 29 per cent of wages for an average couple with two children.
Other key findings include:
- More than six in ten respondents agree with arguments in favour of increased Government investment in the early years, with Labour voters particularly focused on the importance of early years provision in meeting basic needs (71 per cent) and giving all children fair opportunities (75 per cent), while Tory voters are slightly more focused on ensuring that parents can get back into work (59 per cent).
- Most people are concerned about all aspects of the early years sector in ‘today’s Britain’: affordability (67 per cent), equality (63 per cent), availability (60 per cent), sustainability (60 per cent), quality (59 per cent) and flexibility (58 per cent).
Will Snell, chief executive of the Fairness Foundation, said, ‘We found very high levels of agreement about pay for early years workers being too low across the British public, with particularly strong agreement among grandparents of young children, people aged over 50 and people who said that the cost of childcare reduces their childcare options or has forced them to leave work or reduce their hours.
‘The polling also showed that most people disagree with some of the more commonly cited arguments for keeping wages as they are, such as minimising costs for parents or taxpayers. They want investment and a fairer system that works for everyone, and to be confident that their children are receiving the best quality care and opportunities for development.’
Commenting, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said, ‘Early educators are highly skilled professionals who go over and above to provide the very best education and care possible, and yet they continue to be undervalued, underpaid and underappreciated – is it any wonder, therefore, that so many are choosing to leave?
‘The early years workforce is experiencing its most difficult time in decades, and the sector has reached breaking point. It is vital, therefore that in this week’s Budget, the government puts forward a realistic and long-term plan that prioritises the early years before the sector reaches a point of no return.’
