All childcare workers may need A-level equivalent by 2015

According to this week's social mobility white paper, New Opportunities, the government is now considering making it a requirement that all practitioners have at least a "full and relevant" level 3 qualification (equivalent to A-Level).

But with a refreshed childcare strategy due at the end of the month, childcare experts have been quick to emphasise that intensive support and significant funding will be required in order to make the target realistic.

Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, welcomed the qualification requirement but believes nurseries will face a number of challenges if these targets are to be met, including training costs, staff cover, and salaries to retain increasingly qualified staff members.

"Although nurseries do have non-managerial staff who already hold a Level 3 qualification, there would still be large numbers of staff who would require significant training to reach a Level 3 by the deadline"

Childcare charities Daycare Trust and Pre-School Learning Alliance were equally welcoming of the requirement, but have urged the government to back any plans it makes with appropriate funds.

 PSLA's chief executive Steve Alexander said: "It's a massive programme of change that will have resource implications. As long as these resources are in place, the sector will welcome the changes."