Each region in England struggling with early years recruitment, according to TUC analysis
by Jess Gibson
95% of English councils say that early years providers in their area are finding it difficult to recruit staff with the right skills and experience to do the job, with 80% describing it as 鈥渧ery difficult鈥, data鈥痗ollected by Coram Family and Childcare and analysed by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has found.
According to the analysis, the regions struggling most with recruitment of skilled, experienced 鈥渃hildcare workers鈥 鈥 as described by the TUC 鈥 are the West Midlands, the North East, and East of England. These are closely followed by the North West, the South West, and Yorkshire and the Humber.
According to the data published:
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62% of early assistants and practitioners earn less than the real Living Wage.
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early educators earn 56% of England鈥檚 median salary each year, while early years assistants earn 58% of this median.
The TUC argues that the early years sector is facing 鈥渁 staffing crisis鈥 as a result of 鈥渆ndemic low-pay and insecure work鈥, which will significantly impact the 鈥減redominantly female workforce鈥.
As a result, the union body is calling for a comprehensive strategy for the sector in England, with a nationally-negotiated framework that allows for:
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consistent and high-quality early years education
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fair remuneration for all staff
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progression opportunities, such as accredited skills training
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clear health, safety, and wellbeing policies for all staff
Commenting, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said:鈥 "For far too long, working in the early years has meant being overworked, underpaid and undervalued. It comes as absolutely no surprise, therefore, that so many settings are finding it so difficult to attract and recruit suitable staff.
"And, of course, it's not just an issue of recruitment. Over recent months and years, we have seen a sharp increase in the number of existing early years professionals opting to leave the sector permanently, taking with them extensive experience and expertise that we simply cannot afford to lose, especially in light of the planned expansion of the early entitlement offers.
"We therefore welcome the TUC's call for better pay and conditions for the early years workforce, alongside clear career pathways and an emphasis on supporting health, safety and wellbeing. That said, it is important to recognise that those working in the early years are more than 'childcare workers' 鈥 they are education professionals. Until this is fully understood and reflected in government policy, the workforce challenges we are seeing today will only continue."