Of the 335 early years and childcare staff who responded to the survey, close to half (46 per cent) said that they regularly work more than their contracted hours for free. Just 27 per cent get paid to work overtime.
A number of respondents also revealed that they are often unable to leave the setting, even during their breaks, due to staffing ratios.
Voice says that the findings demonstrate how the ‘goodwill’ of a highly committed workforce is being exploited to provide cover for longer opening hours. It raises concern about how far this ‘goodwill’ will be stretched when the 30 hours of free childcare is introduced in England.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
