I own three nurseries with a total of 36 staff. In the past year there have been 11 staff pregnancies. Generally the staff have returned to their jobs on slightly reduced or the same hours. However, one person asked to cut her contract from 42.5 hours a week to 16 hours. She went on maternity leave as a qualified NVQ3 keyworker and I hoped she would continue her role. But she wishes to invoke 'flexible working', which means the children in her care would see her just three mornings or afternoons a week. Legal advice has told me I must offer her a job share. I would be very interested to hear how other providers are dealing with the conundrum of fulfilling their employers' duties under the law while providing the high-quality, consistent care that parents expect. How on earth can providers possibly please everyone?
I own three nurseries with a total of 36 staff. In the past year there have been 11 staff pregnancies. Generally the staff have returned to their jobs on slightly reduced or the same hours. However, one person asked to cut her contract from 42.5 hours a week to 16 hours. She went on maternity leave as a qualified NVQ3 keyworker and I hoped she would continue her role. But she wishes to invoke 'flexible working', which means the children in her care would see her just three mornings or afternoons a week. Legal advice has told me I must offer her a job share.
I would be very interested to hear how other providers are dealing with the conundrum of fulfilling their employers' duties under the law while providing the high-quality, consistent care that parents expect. How on earth can providers possibly please everyone?
Ofsted makes the point that an inspector will check that 'children have a named member of staff (keyworker) that is responsible for them'. Under flexible working rules, this would not be possible, as full-time children could have three or even four carers a week. Yet Ofsted will only say that if staff are appropriately vetted, qualified and cleared, then that is good enough!
With maternity rights being extended next year, nursery owners will have to hold open full-time keyworker positions for 18 months and then potentially be in need of extra part-time staff for job shares - at a time when staff are already difficult to find.
* Barbara Davies, Tots Nursery Schools, Eastbourne (info@totsnurseryschools.co.uk)
