Once again nurseries have hit the headlines, this time accused of creating a generation of 'Vicky Pollards' with staff as poor role models who cannot speak properly.
Nurseries know this is simply not true. However, parents could be forgiven for being concerned by some stereotyping of nurseries as offering a poor quality '8am until 6pm' service run by underqualified staff.
The NDNA decided to conduct research into the true service nurseries are providing. The report, 'Day nurseries: what type of service do you really provide', found that 82 per cent of the under-twos in nursery are there on a part-time basis. Tellingly, 85 per cent of nurseries said that quality childcare, a great atmosphere and staff attitudes were all 'very important'
deciding factors for parents when choosing a nursery, and 80 per cent of nurseries said they had gained an independent quality assurance kitemark and 80 per cent of staff also held a relevant childcare qualification.
So, service to families, quality and positive attitudes are all on the up.
But this is not without its costs. While nurseries are investing in improving the setting and staff, a worrying trend in sustainability continues - 63 per cent of nurseries surveyed were failing to reach a viable level of occupancy. Increases in costs, huge issues with the free early years entitlement, and investment in improving quality are all hitting our nurseries hard.
A great deal is written about the very small number of nurseries that are not doing their best, but little is written about the implications of sustainability and what will happen if thousands of nurseries are forced to close and parents struggle to find childcare that meets their needs.
We need increased investment directly into the sector. Otherwise we are in danger of losing the high quality, flexible childcare our nurseries really do provide.
Far from the reflecting recent coverage about nurseries. our research reveals how in fact nurseries are flexibly meeting the needs of families with a high quality service.
