Low pay to go up the agenda

Education secretary Charles Clarke gave the strongest indication yet that the Government has taken on board concerns about low pay in the childcare sector when he spoke to the Pre-School Learning Alliance annual conference in London last week. Mr Clarke was asked whether the Government would provide guidance on pay levels for childcare workers to ensure parity across all sectors, a question that prompted vigorous applause from delegates in the packed hall of the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre. He responded, 'There are a large number of people working in the sector at very low rates of pay, and that...