Why we need a better deal

Nursery nurses are a hard-working, conscientious and committed group of professionals involved in the education of children aged nought to five entrusted to us by their parents or carers.

We are the largest single group of qualified childcare professionals delivering the highest quality of early years education and childcare. We plan, assess, evaluate, observe, record and monitor every aspect of each individual child's learning, ensuring that they access a varied, stimulating, thought- provoking, and fun pre-five curriculum. This is demanded by documents and policies such as local starting points, national curriculum guidelines and national care standards.

We are not directed by teachers but work in partnership with them, as well as parents, learning assistants and visiting support specialists such as speech therapists, physiotherapists, and so on. We all have a role in creating an interesting, caring, supportive environment where children can, at their own pace, develop and learn using a wide range of skills and strategies.