Coronavirus: One in five early years workers 'want to leave the sector' - survey

With 87 percent of practitioners feeling that that the early years sector has been undervalued during the pandemic anda third saying they are not able to cope with the additional pressures, the survey of 3,800 respondents undertaken between December 2020 and January 2021 found that 20 percent of the workforce are considering leaving.

One respondent said that the unpredictability and pressure for minimum wage is ‘terrible and unjustified’ and that they would get ‘the same or more for cleaning’.
Another said, ‘I feel that the early years sector has been treated disgracefully during the pandemic and I feel that workers have been put at increased risk during the pandemic with little support and acknowledgment of [our] feelings and welfare. My intention is to look for another form of employment and leave the sector.’

The depths of despair that some practitioners have felt is reflected in the 67 respondents (two percent) who said that they had thoughts of ending their own life as a result of the pressures that the pandemic has placed on their early years roles.

One in 10 (11 percent) have also taken time off work due to stress linked to the impact of the pandemic on their role.

The survey also found that the three main sources of stress for those working in the early years sector are keeping up to date with the latest Government guidance; ensuring the safety of children and practitioners at their provision and concerns about the financial viability of their provision. 

Commenting on the results of the survey, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said, ‘It is clear from these results that this is a sector at breaking point. Those working in nurseries, pre-schools and childminding settings have been asked to put their own safety, and that of their loved ones, at risk with little support and even less recognition, and so it is no surprise that this has taken such a toll on their mental health and well-being. 

‘Those in Government should take a moment to reflect on how it feels to listen to ministers tell everyone how vital it is to stay at home, and to watch as hospitalisation and death rates continue to rise, and then to be asked to keep working in a close-contact environment with no support with PPE, no testing and no vaccinations. Is it any wonder that such a significant proportion of the early years workforce are considering simply walking away? 

‘We urge the Government to take stock of these findings and commit to providing the support that those in the early years need to remain safe and sustainable during this period. The sector is doing its utmost to continue providing a vital service to families at an incredibly difficult and worrying time, but it is not fair, and it is not right, to ask them to continue to do so if the cost is their own wellbeing, whether physical or mental. If we keep going the way we are going, we are going to lose excellent professionals from the sector for good.’

A Department for Education spokesperson said, ‘We know early years professionals are working hard to deliver crucial care and education to our youngest children which cannot be done remotely, and we are working closely with the sector to ensure timely guidance and support. Current evidence suggests that pre-school children under the age of 5 are less susceptible to infection and are unlikely to be playing a driving role in transmission.

‘Critical workers in England, including early years staff, are being prioritised for asymptomatic testing through the Community Testing Programme, which is being rolled out to all local authorities. We are working urgently to secure the most effective approach to asymptomatic testing for the whole of the early years sector and discussions continue on how to expand this. We are funding nurseries as usual and where nurseries do see a drop in income from either parent-paid fees or income from DfE, they are able to use the furlough scheme.’

Anonymous case studies from the survey

‘I have always loved my job, but I’m about to resign this week as I don’t feel safe at work. It’s causing terrible stress and anxiety, and arguments at home.’

‘I don't know how much more I can take. [My work] is considerably affecting my home life and has done since the 30 hours funding came in place; now with everything regarding Covid, I feel I am breaking point.’

‘I am considering leaving after feeling so unsupported and undervalued by the government in recent weeks. I do not feel this will improve so feel that I will seek other employment.’

‘I love my job, but I have never felt so underappreciated. I've lost about half my former income and set to lose more. My hands are wrecked from constant handwashing and I'm terrified that my kids will catch Covid from one of the children in my care. I can't attend my usual toddler groups or drop-ins with other childminders, so I am totally isolated. I'm trying to keep cheerful to maintain some semblance of normality for my minders, but it's hard when I'm told, day in and day out, that my health is worth less than school teachers'.’

‘Not sure how long I can do this for. In a charity pre-school, I already work many hours for free and on a low hourly rate but since Covid, this has tripled, I’m heading for a burn-out and I’m a person that has never had any mental health issues in the past.’

‘I love my job, but feel totally overwhelmed by having to stay up to date with all the guidance, stay on top of all the cleaning I have to do to ensure the children, and my family, are kept as safe as possible, as well as all the usual planning and preparing that comes with the job.’

‘I feel the sector has been treated appallingly. Staff have been expected to carry on regardless and the risk we are putting ourselves at is not really acknowledged. This really does not help with current stress levels.’