While the 100m for capital funding might persuade more nurseriesand childminders to offer two-year-old places, the thing which makes meso sad is that the real investment needs to go into salaries. A greatbuilding is no use at all if you have low-paid, financially strugglingstaff. My setting now welcomes two-year-olds, but the funding does notcover the staffing costs and another bit of kit funded by a capitalgrant will not make this situation any better. We are continuallypressured to raise quality, rightly so, but we have had no increase inour income for three years from our local county council. And when weask for advice they suggest we are overstaffed and should run sessionswith only two staff members. Stacking shelves at the local supermarketfor more per hour often seems very tempting.
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