Latest research by the Early Years Alliance (EYA) also reveals that the struggles of the past two years have further dented the appeal of working in the sector to the point where this could undermine efforts to rebuild it.
The EYA survey of nearly 1,400 childcare providers found that 85 per cent reported difficulty in recruiting suitable staff. Most reported a general lack of applicants for roles, a shortage of applicants with relevant early years qualifications and an inability to match salary expectations.
Retaining staff
In addition to recruiting, large numbers of providers also reported problems retaining staff: 62 per cent of respondents to the survey said workers who had left their setting in the previous six months had left the sector completely and half had been forced to use bank or agency staff to fill gaps.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
