Nursery World - Status is all

I am responding to the letter 'It's time to recognise BAs in early childhood' (2 August). The book Focus on early childhood; principles and realities, edited by Boushel, Fawcett and Selwyn, published 2000, observes that 'most of our European partners demand higher levels of training than Britain, by far the majority requiring at least three years of tertiary (degree-level) education for anyone employed in this sector.' However, 'a fresh generation of well-educated and thoughtful potential professionals' will hopefully not only generate higher regard for early years practitioners (unqualified, qualified to level 2 or 3, or with Early Childhood Studies degrees), but will also expect better pay. As a psychology graduate with a teaching qualification and recent early years further training, I have worked as manager and teacher of a private nursery over the last six years at an average annual 'salary' of 6,400. The nursery can pay no more than this. The parents would be unlikely to be able to pay higher fees.

As a psychology graduate with a teaching qualification and recent early years further training, I have worked as manager and teacher of a private nursery over the last six years at an average annual 'salary' of 6,400. The nursery can pay no more than this. The parents would be unlikely to be able to pay higher fees.

It seems to me the matter rests not with recognising BAs in early childhood, but with the level of training early years practitioners should have. But how can the status be altered so that society will find the money to fund early childhood centres where children can connect with adults who are well-educated and also well-trained, gentle, caring and responsible, as the majority of the low-status, poorly-paid early years workforce are?

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