Nursery World - Low pay is true cost of support

By Rosemary Murphy, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) In the absence of greater Government support, affordable daycare has put the brakes on developing the childcare workforce. Higher salaries are essential to allow us to develop the workforce, but with 70 per cent of turnover going on salaries - up from 40 per cent in 1992 - this would lead to unaffordable fees.

In the absence of greater Government support, affordable daycare has put the brakes on developing the childcare workforce. Higher salaries are essential to allow us to develop the workforce, but with 70 per cent of turnover going on salaries - up from 40 per cent in 1992 - this would lead to unaffordable fees.

Pay is the fundamental workforce issue that the Government must address.

While childcare workers subsidise the cost of childcare by accepting low salaries, true workforce development will not be achievable, and the quality and viability of provision is at risk.

The recruitment of nursery staff is exacerbated by competition from Sure Start local programmes, Neighbourhood Nurseries and extended schools. These settings are able to pay higher salaries because they not only don't have many of the costs of mainstream day nurseries such as business rates, but they also have the support of targeted funding.

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