The warning from the Professional Association of Nursery Nurses (PANN) was made earlier today (Thursday) following the findings of its 'snapshot'
survey that highlights the low pay and professional status of nursery nurses working in some of England's day nurseries.
The survey, conducted in December, found that while just under a quarter of nursery nurses earn between 5 and 7 an hour, almost four in ten (38 per cent) are paid 5 an hour or less, with some earning as little as 3.54. As few as one in five (21 per cent) receive any extra allowances such as a pension contribution, bonus or travelling expenses.
More than one third (35 per cent) of the nursery nurses said they worked up to ten hours a week over their contracted hours and just under one in ten (eight per cent) work up to 20 hours a week of unpaid overtime.
Professional development fared better, as more than two in three (68 per cent) of nursery nurses said their employers had provided them with training, though 40 per cent said they had attended training in their own time, in some cases in addition to the in-house training. Just under half (49 per cent) are not having any training outside work.
PANN professional officer Tricia Pritchard called for Government intervention and warned that the early years sector could see an exodus of well-trained nursery nurses leaving for more lucrative pay as teachers. She said, 'What is the point of the Government providing nursery nurses with additional training to NVQ level 4 if it doesn't lead to improved pay and status? Unless something is done the private sector will lose the best staff, who will move on to fast-tracking in teaching, nursing or social work.
'The Government is looking at every single aspect of childcare bar the people running the provision. It must intervene with more subsidies - day nurseries don't have the money to pay staff more and parents don't have the money to pay higher fees either.'
Rosemary Murphy, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, agreed. She said, 'Nursery salaries account for 60 to 70 per cent of fees charged. Higher salaries can only be supported with increased fees. We all know parents have limited incomes.'
A recent survey by the Daycare Trust found the typical cost of a full-time day nursery place for child under two in England is 120 a week or Pounds 6,200 a year.
