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The Early Years Alliance has issued a comment in response to the Respect the Sector report, an Early Years Reputation report from software platform Famly.

The report found: 

• In total 86% of settings are currently facing staffing difficulties.
• Overall, 95% of respondents don’t feel respected by politicians and policymakers.
• A further 69% feel they lack respect from wider society.
• Three quarters of respondents find their daily work stressful.
• Only 39% of respondents currently feel positive about their work.

The full report can be read . 

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said:

“It is disappointing, but sadly not at all surprising, that 95% of respondents don’t feel respected by policymakers and politicians. For far too long the early years sector has been treated appallingly by the government, not only in terms of the funding the sector receives, but also the way that our workforce has been persistently disrespected and undervalued by policymakers. 

“Despite a mountain of research highlighting how valuable early educators are in supporting children to develop skills and learning that will stay with them for life, the sector continues to fall further and further down the government’s priority list.  

“The fact that that staffing difficulties were listed as the biggest concern for professionals highlights just how bad the current recruitment and retention crisis, which has largely been driven by both low pay and the continued lack of respect for early education in this country, has become." 

“As such, we once again urge the government to commit to properly funding our sector, but also to recognise our workforce as the educators they are, and in doing so, set an example for wider society to follow. 

“Early years professionals are not just ‘babysitters’ – they lay the vital foundations for a child’s future and it is high time that this was properly recognised.”