Skills gap threatens centre recruitment

The difficulties that local authorities are having in some areas to recruit teachers to work in children's centres, revealed in a report by the National Children's Bureau, have been confirmed by the Government. The report by the Early Childhood Unit, which was carried out on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills, said that there were problems in getting staff 'with appropriate skills and knowledge' and that teachers found it hard to move out of their traditional role, where they enjoyed higher professional status.