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Eight in ten Britons think salaries for early years staff are too low

New findings show that many people aren't aware of how low wages are for staff working in early years settings, with 8 in 10 believing their pay is too low for what they do.
Some of those polled overestimated the hourly rate of pay for early years staff by an average of 47 per cent, PHOTO: Adobe Stock
Some of those polled overestimated the hourly rate of pay for early years staff by an average of 47 per cent, PHOTO: Adobe Stock

The report from the Fair Foundation, based upon a survey of 2,000 ‘nationally representative’ adults, finds that many people don’t realise how low wages are for people working in the sector, overestimating hourly pay by an average of 47 per cent (£10.92 compared to £7.42).

It reveals that 73 per cent agree that early years workers need to be valued as much as other staff in the education sector and they should be paid enough to 'get by'.

The finding also show that two in three respondents are worried about the costs of early years provision, but they underestimate how expensive childcare is in the UK compared to other countries.

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