Opinion: Editor's View - There's encouraging news all round in the early years workforce

It was great, too, to meet so many early years practitioners from all parts of the sector and to hear their concerns. It was evident that very many are really striving to gain better qualifications and progress their careers, studying and working at the same time.The Show was a fitting event to bring together a large number of committed professionals to meet and share their good practice and experiences.

This week's Nursery World magazine also covers a wide range of practice and practitioners. We're delighted to bring back our EYP Update section, sponsored by the Children's Workforce Development Council, with the latest news and case studies about the growing band of Early Years Professionals (pages 24-25). There are now more than 4,000 EYPs, with every children's centre required to have one by the end of this year. Our monthly section will be looking at the benefits of employing an EYP and at how the status is being promoted throughout the country.

The nanny workforce has always struggled to be accepted as part of the mainstream early years sector, with successive governments refusing to require registration and regulation on the same level as other childcarers. Despite this, many are signing up to the Ofsted Voluntary Childcare Register. Nanny salaries are rising again too, as our annual survey shows (pages 10-11) - as their wages seem to anticipate moves in the economy, this could be good news for us all!