The childcare crisis is, in part, a workforce crisis. That’s why we need to listen closely to voices within the sector when they tell us about what works and what doesn’t. Timewise’s new findings are an excellent example; they found a staggering 18,000 childcare workers could be recruited if the sector embraced more flexible and part-time roles.
Despite this yearning for flexibility, much of the government’s recruitment efforts so far have focused on nurseries. As vital as they are, nurseries are more rigid by nature, with staff needing to be on-site with set hours. Many potential recruits – especially parents – will be put off by a rigid role in a remote-working world. Childminders, on the other hand, can set their own hours and work from home. Their flexibility also means they, in turn, can offer flexible care for the children of the modern workforce.
The Labour government should take note of how people feel about flexible work in childcare, just as they have with teaching. Concrete steps should then be taken to strengthen the more flexible parts of the sector, like removing the requirement to obtain landlord permission to childmind in a rented property. Far from being a ‘nice-to-have’, flexibility could be the key to addressing staffing shortages – and childminding is at the heart of this movement.
Brett Wigdortz, CEO, tiney
Low attainment due to early schooling
Re: ‘Ofsted to examine link between “childcare deserts” and children’s school attainment’
(NW online, 5 December)
School attainment is low because they start them too early. Why can’t they look at more successful education systems and notice it’s because they don’t start school until seven!
Troodle Tots Childminding, Facebook
Divert funding to parents via TFC
Re: ‘Parents warn they will have to leave the workforce if early years settings increase fees due to NICs rise’ (NW online, 12 November)
Everyone talks like the NI is the only issue. The pay increase, lack of professional qualified staff and the underfunding will also impact on how much fees rise. We are businesses not charities. Government, remove us out of the funding equation and pay the parents the funding rates through Tax-Free Childcare and we businesses can charge what we need to.
Dawn Hartley, Facebook
Bound to fail
We are near to being a broken country. How did they not foresee that these nonworker tax increases would not affect every business and in turn every pocket. If Asda and M&S can’t make it work, what hope has a small business?
Hometime breakfast and after-school club – Westfield, Facebook
Bill is welcome
Re: ‘New Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill signals move away from academies’ (NW online, 17 December)
We welcome the measures the Bill provides. It will ensure all teachers will hold or be working towards Qualified Teacher Status before they enter the classroom, meaning that children will be receiving the best education. This legislation will be welcomed by teaching assistants as it affords them better protection and ensures clarity between roles.
Helen Osgood, operations director and national officer for early years, Community
Nursery World from 1959
When I moved into my bungalow in 1993, I found a Nursery World magazine in a cupboard. I put it away at the time and have just found it again in a drawer in my garage. It is dated 5 November 1959 and obviously belonged to the couple who had lived in my property since it was built in 1960. I hesitate to destroy the magazine after all this time and wondered if you would be interested?
Karilyn Robinson, by email
Editor’s response: We love hearing stories like these! Please get in touch at letters.nw@markallengroup.com
