We are in full agreement that staff working within childcare should be given a higher status, higher pay and better working conditions. Surely there are few professions as worthy of greater status in society as looking after and nurturing our next generation.
It is well publicised that the early years of child development are extremely important and, with the rise in the number of parents returning to work after the birth of their children, daycare practitioners are increasingly sharing this responsibility with parents. The rate of pay for them should reflect this.
However, unless a setting is state-funded, it is difficult to raise the required funds without increasing fees to parents. This, of course, is not always popular and can be viewed negatively because of the low status that childcare has.
Therefore we have a vicious circle. Either increased funding, apart from the funding available for three-and four-year-olds, needs to be gained or society as a whole needs to recognise that the care our children receive must be of high quality and therefore needs to be rewarded.
We all pay solicitors and accountants happily for their time. How important is our children's time?
Anne Wassell, manager, and Julie Cox, principal, Freshfields Private Nursery and Montessori School, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
