Nursery World - High turnover as sector expands

Around three-quarters of full-day care providers and nursery schools in England have had to recruit staff over the past year, a survey published by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has found. The Childcare and Early Years Workforce Survey 2002-03 found that more than half of playgroups, out-of-school clubs and primary schools with nursery and reception classes have had to recruit in the past year. It put this down to 'the fluidity of the childcare and early years workforce'.

The Childcare and Early Years Workforce Survey 2002-03 found that more than half of playgroups, out-of-school clubs and primary schools with nursery and reception classes have had to recruit in the past year. It put this down to 'the fluidity of the childcare and early years workforce'.

The survey also found that the rate of pay for the sector remained about the same during this time. Pay levels for early years staff 'had not changed markedly' between 2001 and 2003, with supervisors' pay levels not rising at all, 'which may indicate the impact of the minimum wage among this group'.

Nursery school workers earned the highest, at 25,400 overall for those paid annually and 7.08 an hour for those paid by the hour. The survey added, 'Comparable figures for primary schools with nursery classes, and primary schools with reception classes are 21,900/6.63 and Pounds 20,500/6 respectively.'

The average number of hours worked by staff also rose by 12 per cent, with staff in full-day care settings working longer average hours than those in playgroups. Many settings relied on volunteers, trainees and agency staff.

The childcare workforce grew by two per cent from 274,500 in 2001 to 279,100 in 2002-03. The number of registered childminders in England who hold a Level 3 qualification has more than doubled in the past three years, with just under one-third (32 per cent) of childminders now having a Level 3 qualification, up from just 14 per cent in 2001.

Gill Haynes, chief executive of the National Childminding Association, said, 'We need to build on this firm basis - supporting all registered childminders to achieve a Level 3 qualification within five years of registration.'

Rosemary Murphy, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, added, 'Despite rapid growth in their workforce, nurseries are maintaining good levels of qualification with 75 per cent qualified at Level 2 or above. We must ensure that Level 3 remains the aim for all working in nurseries.'

'The survey shows that salaries remain predictably low. This will remain the case until realistic levels of subsidy can be introduced to the sector.'

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