Show us men some respect

I'm fed up with hearing presumptions about why the childcare sector has problems when it comes to employing male nursery nurses.

Let's start with the basics. Yes, male and female nursery nurses are low paid, and until the Government takes into account the pressures this places on us and decides to act, we will remain low paid for the foreseeable future.

I have worked for a few private day nurseries that have treated me disgracefully, where staff made me feel unwelcome and made life difficult for me. Some managers are also guilty of blocking men at the first hurdle, the interview. One nursery manager I worked for just about found the energy to say 'Good morning' and 'Goodbye' to me. This type of personnel skill nearly put me off working with children.

Parents are also a major factor when it comes to men in childcare. In my last nursery, parents questioned me face to face about my motives ('Why do you want to look after children?').

And working for up to 12,000 a year is hardly a plush lifestyle, especially when open days, parents' evenings, and so on, are unpaid. While money is not always an issue, I think it's fair to say that none of us go into the nursery at 7.30am for the sheer love of the job.

Also, when nurseries put you on a training course, it's as though they are giving you the earth. While training extends your knowledge, employers who quite literally force you to go on courses put me off working for them.

We don't abuse children and some of us are probably better nursery nurses than the women are. But until attitudes change towards men in childcare, the Government's drive to tempt men into this sector is dead in the water.

As someone who now works with newborn babies, I would encourage all men considering work in childcare to get their foot in the door by doing internal agency work at a hospital. Equal opportunities actually work and are implemented there, the training courses are excellent and so are the staff. So, go for it!