EMBARGO FOR 00.01 11 – 11 – 08

CONTACT: DAYCARE TRUST PRESS OFFICE, 020 7840 3350, OUT OF HOURS 07804 508 768

TUC/Daycare Trust report: Childcare workforce need improved pay and conditions.

Daycare Trust and the TUC will today launch a landmark report which has found that the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) workforce are still blighted by poor pay and conditions, jeopardising further efforts to improve staff qualification levels and the overall quality of services.

‘Raising the bar: What next for the early childhood education and care workforce?’ found that the Government has made substantial progress in improving qualification levels of staff in the ECEC sector and also in extending the range of routes to achieving qualifications. However, pay and conditions in the ECEC sector are still extremely poor with some workers being paid below the National Minimum Wage, and are unlikely to be raised without Government intervention.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) which came into effect this September has expanded the role of ECEC workers by merging the concepts of education and care. There is now, more than ever, little justification for those in ECEC services to endure pay and conditions which are so dramatically poorer than other professionals in the children’s sector.

The report argues that working in the Early Years Education and Care settings must be seen as a positive career choice for all people in order to recruit the most talented and committed staff.

The key recommendations are:

• Government should establish a high level stakeholder group involving employers and trade unions to examine the impact of poor pay and conditions in the ECEC workforce and to make clear recommendations to tackle this problem.
• The Government should set new standards so ECEC workers pay and conditions improve in line with improved qualifications and are benchmarked against other relevant early years professionals.
• ECEC providers should be required to provide details of staff pay and conditions as part of their Ofsted inspections to ensure they are complying with minimum wage regulations.
• All ECEC staff should have the opportunity to acquire a relevant qualification equivalent to NVQ Level 3 by 2015.
• Half of all childminders should hold a relevant qualification equivalent to NVQ Level 3 by 2011.

Ends.

NOTES TO EDITORS The launch event takes place at 10.30am on Tuesday 11th November 2008 at Congress House.

Click on this link to find out how to get to Congress House: www.tuc.org.uk/the_tuc/about_contact.cfm

For a copy of the report call 0207 840 3350.

Daycare Trust is the national childcare charity, campaigning for quality affordable accessible childcare for all and raising the voices of children, parents and carers. We advise parents and carers, providers, employers, trade unions and policymakers on childcare issues. We recognise that everyone is unique and we value difference in our communities. We listen to all views and are committed to act without prejudice. We oppose all discrimination and promote equality in all we do.

Daycare Trust is calling on the government to:

• Meet parents' aspirations for universal childcare services by:
  • expanding free places for two, three and four-year olds to at least 20 hours a week, for 48 weeks in the year and
  • subsidising out of school activities for all 11-14s and for younger children from poorer families, aiming ultimately to make them free.
• Tackle the affordability crisis by giving local authorities the means to develop sustainable services in poorer areas and provide free places for those missing out, including places for disabled children, parents needing out of hours care, Further Education students and parents of under-threes who want to train.
• Raise the bar on childcare quality by expanding the Graduate Leader Fund, developing a new generation of childcare professionals and paying them properly.

Daycare Trust runs an information line (020 7840 3350) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am-5pm. Parents can also visit www.daycaretrust.org.uk for information.

Daycare Trust is a member of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, www.ecpc.org.uk.

For further information, contact press office at Daycare Trust on 020 7840 3350, ext 217 (out of hours 0780-4508768).