Of the early years workers who completed our snapshot online survey in December, 35 per cent said that they hoped the Conservatives would form the next Government, compared with 27 per cent who answered Labour and 4 per cent who wanted the Liberal Democrats.
However, almost a third of the respondents were unsure of who they wanted to win the election, and many were clearly disillusioned with the main political parties.
One respondent commented, 'We need a totally new party - take the best from each and put them together. We need a radical change of thinking and way of doing things in Britain if we are going to see positive change and maintain it.'
Another said, 'They are all the same. I hope the party that wins will be one that listens to us!'
On the subject of the biggest challenges facing the early years sector in 2010, 31 per cent of respondents said that they thought this would be the revised training and qualification requirements, followed by 29 per cent who believed the economic climate is the biggest concern.
One respondent said, 'The CWDC has not yet released details of changes to childcare courses and they are seriously dumbing down the level 3 qualification.'
Another respondent commented, 'For our settings it will be cutbacks by a council which does not see the benefit of nursery schools and classes and favours the PVI sector.'
When asked what single change to early years policy they would like a new Government to make, pay and funding emerged as the major areas of discontent.
'I would like a new Government to put the PVI sector on a par with maintained nurseries and nursery schools in terms of pay and funding,' one respondent replied.
Another said, 'I would like to see an increase in funding to recognise the importance of early years, especially now that the qualification requirements are rising.'
Other comments included, 'There should be more financial support for early years workers, so that they can earn a decent wage for the important work they do, which has been highlighted in the report A Bit Rich' (see page 6).
Opinion was divided on whether the EYFS should be revised or remain the same. Forty-five per cent said that they would like to see some changes, while 43 per cent said that it should remain the same. Six per cent called for the EYFS to be scrapped.
Most respondents were pleased that the Early Years Single Funding Formula (EYSFF) is to be delayed for one year until April 2011. Forty-three per cent saw this as positive, compared with 21 per cent who said that it was negative and 36 per cent who did not know.
However, many respondents were angry about the continuation of what they called a two-tier system for the PVI sector and maintained settings. Comments from respondents on the delay to the EYSFF included, 'The problems are just being avoided and put off for another year. This is not going to help.'
Another commented, 'Maintained nurseries are complaining that they will have to deal with the same conditions that the PVI sector has had to deal with - funding for only the children attending, not by the number of places.'
The majority of survey respondents were from the private sector, at 42 per cent, followed by 21 per cent from pre-schools and 5 per cent from maintained schools. The remainder were from a variety of organisations, including a local authority, an after-school club and a voluntary setting.
PRIORITIES FOR THE EARLY YEARS: SURVEY COMMENTS
What single change would you like a new Government to make?
'Scrap the extension to the free entitlement. The funding hardly covers the cost of the 12.5 hours, let alone 15.'
'I would like the new Government to change the new system of training that is proposed for 2010. Workbased training works for most nurseries, and a change from that to a boost in classroom training will stop many future employees from gaining experience while being paid a wage.'
'I would like the CWDC to consult with the early years sector truthfully about the changes to the qualifications they are about to implement.'
'Stop judging settings on qualifications, judge them on their practice. Scrap free places and give parents an allowance. Pay the childcare element of the working tax credit directly to the provider.'
What about the EYSFF delay?
'Early years teachers need to be part of the whole consultation process and I hope local authorities will give us this opportunity before 2011. The impact will be such on the school budget that some schools with a two-intake system may have to cut back on their nursery reception staff, so redundancy may be inevitable.'
'Private nurseries have never been funded per place and we have had to manage, so why shouldn't the schools?'
The EYSFF system is much fairer and should not be put off to give schools time to get rid of it all together.'
