Download this article as a pdf
In the UK, conditions faced by the early years workforce can often seem dire. Long days, heavy responsibilities and low pay and recognition leave practitioners often feeling undervalued. No surprise when hourly pay rates are just £8.30 on average in group-based provision. The national average wage is nearly double this at £15.98. Even nursery staff at school-based providers don’t reach that, paid on average just £14.40 an hour, with Reception staff earning slightly more at £15.10. With cost pressures rising, the sector is placing an increasing reliance on unpaid staff.
Fewer staff are working towards higher qualifications, while at the same time, staff turnover has been increasing, with churn standing at 14 per cent for group-based providers, eight per cent for nurseries and nine per cent for Reception, according to the Education Policy Institute.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
