Private nurseries fear they will go unheard in Nutbrown qualifications review

Professor Cathy Nutbrown is leading the review, alongside a panel of early years experts which comprises representatives from organisations including 4Children, the Pre-School Learning Alliance and nursery group Bright Horizons.

However, the NDNA, which speaks on behalf of day nurseries, says it is concerned that the views of its nursery owner members will not be heard at a strategic level.

They say that the 200,000strong day nursery workforce and the 14,000 employers in the sector are questioning how they are being represented on the expert panel, when it is such a crucial review that impacts on their workforce.

NDNA chief executive Purnima Tanuku told Nursery World, 'My concern is that in the PVI sector we've had lots of our members asking us, "Who's representing us on the panel? What about the views of the workforce?" There are lots of challenges and very little support from local authorities.

'The DfE says that it's not a representative panel and that people are there in their individual right, but how are the sector's views going to be taken into account at a strategic level?'

She added, 'While we are not criticising those on the panel in any way, we do question why this omission has been made when the majority of the workforce in the sector are employed in day nurseries. This does not send a positive message to the sector in terms of the contribution that they make in supporting children and families.'

Ms Tanuku said that NDNA members are concerned, especially at a time when local authorities, and equally providers, are finding it difficult to balance their budgets, about who will provide support and training.

'On the one hand, the DfE is saying that they want highly-qualified settings - but who's going to support us?

'The majority of employers are small and medium-sized businesses and their concerns need to be clearly heard.'

However, Professor Cathy Nutbrown insisted that the views of private day nurseries were an essential part of her review.

She said, 'I have already held some meetings with staff from different nursery chains, and meetings where the NDNA have been part of the discussion. I have offered them further meetings and have asked that they and their members contribute to my call for evidence.

'I am keen to hear about what works and what needs changing, and I want to hear from the whole range of people with an interest in this critical area, including private day nurseries, childminders, children's centres, teachers and lecturers, students and parents. I will be visiting a range of settings across the country, including private day nurseries, and day nursery staff have already signed up for the series of regional workshops. There will be lots of opportunities to meet with me, submit ideas, and get views across.

She added, 'My expert panel is a comparatively small part of the process and the group were selected for their personal experience, rather than because of the organisations they represent.'

The Department for Education said that the NDNA was one of the organisations that helped to frame the terms of reference for the Nutbrown Review.