Nursery World - Rising to management

30 Letter - I agree with the points raised in 'Experience counts too' (Letters, 3 August) regarding the current buzz around requiring nursery managers and leaders of early education childcare settings to have graduate status. I feel for the early years managers and leaders at this time, because from every angle it seems as if pressure is being put on us. While I absolutely agree with professional development and career progression, what saddens me is the fact that the majority have worked their way up from the bottom of our profession, which was the way most job roles developed in the not-so- long-ago past. We've all washed the paint pots, but we have also gained extremely valuable experience along the way and worked very hard for recognition.

I feel for the early years managers and leaders at this time, because from every angle it seems as if pressure is being put on us. While I absolutely agree with professional development and career progression, what saddens me is the fact that the majority have worked their way up from the bottom of our profession, which was the way most job roles developed in the not-so- long-ago past. We've all washed the paint pots, but we have also gained extremely valuable experience along the way and worked very hard for recognition.

Now all we seem to hear is graduate, QT status, the new EYP. With the greatest respect to the teaching profession, that is what they are - teachers. Nursery managers are managers. We are both doing different job roles with completely different responsibilities. I have many friends who are early years teachers and their understanding of managing a childcare setting is, by their own admission, nil.

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