Many Nursery World readers are deeply concerned by the episodes of unacceptable practice shown on 'Nurseries Undercover'. It is no comfort to realise that the experiences of the children shown, and their anxious families, are not unique. As Liz Roberts points out in her editorial (19 August), the welcome expansion of provision of daycare and early education is at risk if the Government's push for quantity prevails at the expense of quality.
Evidence from other countries confirms that investment in training is crucial. Adults who work with our youngest children need to appreciate that what they do will affect children for years to come. If staff understood more of the unfolding miracle of children's development and learning, their work could be transformed from a frustrating, undervalued chore.
Recognition through salaries and conditions of work is long overdue.
One aspect of the problem relates to the different inspection systems applied by Ofsted to nurseries in the maintained and non-maintained sectors. Unannounced inspections would reveal a truer picture of practice in any setting, but at least in schools, a team of inspectors observes practice over a few days. This, combined with time to interview staff, pupils and parents, means a fuller, more accurate picture can be built.
The reliance on employment-based accreditation and training has strengths, but also serious shortcomings when unqualified or inexperienced practitioners are working in nurseries where they may not observe good practice. We are at risk of recycling the kinds of attitudes and behaviour shown in the programme unless a much more rigorous approach, of inspectors as well as nursery staff, is taken to training.
It is essential that all concerned are aware of what effective early years practice looks like, so that as a society we can ensure that our youngest children experience the very best that we can offer.
