SUPPORT PVI CARERS
Helen Penn states, 'Ofsted exists to police a potentially exploitive market' (Analysis, 13 March). I presume she is including all the schools, colleges and universities in this statement, as Ofsted existed long before childcare came under its watchful eye.
We all know that inspection is at a minimum in Scandinavian countries, where the 'curriculum' is a couple of A4 sheets and all the staff are graduates in well-funded centres. I do not agree with Ms Penn's apparent conclusion that this can only be a reality in a country where everything is provided by the state. Britain has a long history of over-regulation and testing, putting its emphasis on 'policing' education and inventing a new curriculum every couple of years, backed up with hefty guidance documents. If we want to become more akin to Scandinavia then we need a fundamental rethink of where we put our emphasis. We all know children need support and caring environments to grow and develop - well, the childcare sector could do with a little of that itself.
Ms Penn suggests that private providers of childcare are often 'unscrupulous operators'. She obviously needs to get out more. There are quite a few of us out here who actually love children and are bending over backwards to provide quality care at affordable prices.
We have a nation of childcarers frightened to be creative and spontaneous and demoralised by a constant barrage of people telling them they should be graduates. The people I employ all want to be graduates, but you try managing a nursery registered for 70 children with a busy out-of-school and holiday club, working 40 hours a week, bringing up a young family of your own and then studying late into the night to complete the next module of a foundation degree. These people need applauding, not demoralising.
The majority of childcarers are rising to the challenge but they need support, not a constant barrage of abuse.
ROSEMARY MURPHY, nursery owner, Huddersfield
Letter of the Week wins £30 worth of children's books
GLASS CEILING AHEAD
I completely understand Margaret Wright's frustration about EYP status (Letters, 13 March). I qualified in 2005 with a 2.1 BA (Hon) and have been unable to find a suitable job. To pay my way I work part-time in the private sector and have therefore been eligible and have just finished my EYPS.
Despite all my studying, I find I am still no closer to securing a job where I can use my newly-gained knowledge and skills. The Government are constantly pushing for a cheap graduate workforce that have no long-term prospects. As a qualified teacher currently working as a nursery nurse, I see the implications from both angles and understand the frustration of the glass ceiling.
CHARLOTTE CHURCHILL, by e-mail
REPRESENTING EYPS
The article 'EYPs form a trade union' (News, 13 March) seems to suggest that there is only one union representing EYPs.
There are already well-established trade unions for childcare staff, particularly in statutory settings. Unison is the leading union for public sector childcare staff and has over 30,000 members working in nurseries and children's centres, including EYPs.
We have well established branch networks for nursery staff and EYPs and a Unison official sits on the CWDC board to promote the interests of the workforce. I think it should be made clear to your readers that Aspect is not a recognised union for childcare workers working for local authorities, children's centres and schools and is not able to negotiate over pay and conditions for these staff.
Unison is currently in negotiations with both the Government and local authority employers about the establishment of a new negotiating body for school staff, which will include staff in maintained nurseries, about establishing national grading structures.
We are also working with the CWDC to establish pathways for experienced nursery staff to progress to EYPS, as we believe that in many cases these are the real early years experts and professionals in working with children.
BEN THOMAS, Unison national officer, children's services
We recognise that there is still much work to be done in improving the pay and conditions of childcare staff and in translating the professional status and expertise of childcare workers into professional salary levels particularly in the PVI sector. However, UNISON is committed to improving the pay, conditions and status of all childcare workers and continues to lead the campaign across the UK.
- send you letters to ... The Editor, Nursery World, 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP letter.nw@haymarket.com 020 8267 8402.
