John Chowcat, general secretary of the children’s services union Aspect, said freeing centres in the 30 per cent most disadvantaged areas from the obligation to employ highly qualified staff will be detrimental. "This is a major blow to professionalism," he said. "Parents living in these areas are entitled to qualified staff."
Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, added that the move will allow councils to recruit less-qualified staff as part of budget reduction plans.
"When even the government accepts that children make more progress in nurseries, pre-schools and playgroups with staff who have higher qualifications, it seems totally contrary to remove the requirement for staff to have qualified teacher and early years professional status," she said. "We are deeply unhappy about this and fear that in an era of cuts local authorities and nursery owners will use it as an excuse to recruit less well-qualified staff so that they can cut their wage bills."
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