Nursery World - Nurseries dispute CWDC's staff age survey results

Nursery providers have expressed surprise at a claim by the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) that the average age of nursery staff is 32. The CWDC has stated that only 14 per cent of an estimated 100,000-strong nursery workforce are aged 29 and under - a finding that the director of one leading nursery chain described as 'bizarre'.

The CWDC has stated that only 14 per cent of an estimated 100,000-strong nursery workforce are aged 29 and under - a finding that the director of one leading nursery chain described as 'bizarre'.

The statistics are included in an 'Occupation summary sheet' produced by the CWDC which also showed that 90 per cent of all nursery managers are qualified up to level 3, with 63 per cent of all nursery staff at this level.

According to the summary sheet, the age breakdown of the nursery workforce is as follows: 2 per cent between 16 and 19; 5 per cent between 20 and 24; 7 per cent between 24 and 29; 40 per cent between 30 and 39; 33 per cent between 40 and 49; and 13 per cent over 50.

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