Responding to today’s publication of the DfE’s childcare and early years provider survey, NFER Research Manager, Lillian Flemons, said:
“After three years of accelerating growth in the number of early years professionals, this progress has now stalled - just at the time the Government expects more staff to be needed to deliver the final stage of the free childcare entitlement. Expanding the entitlement will mean very little on the ground if early years providers cannot attract and retain the necessary staff to make more places available.
“To ensure every child gets the best start in life, the Government must take decisive action to increase support for the early years workforce. Addressing issues such as low pay, lack of deserved recognition and limited career progression opportunities will be needed to develop a highly skilled early years workforce that can both meet the demand the expanded entitlement brings and promote high-quality child development.”