After all, few are in it for the money. But it is sometimes easy toforget that not everybody is convinced that early years education andchildcare are always needed, let alone that taxpayers should pay forit.
The incomprehension, derision and deliberate misrepresentation thatcharacterised much of the press coverage of the publication of theChildcare Bill last week was a salutary reminder of this, however."Toddlers taught to speak by state diktat", "Opponents attack toddlercurriculum", and "Baby education 'absolute madness'" were just some ofthe headlines.
What they reveal is not so much an objection to the content of what theGovernment is proposing; rather, it taps into public scepticism aboutthe value of early years education itself, no matter what the content.And along with that comes scepticism about the need for professionaltraining, and professional status and pay, for the childcare and earlyyears workforce. After all, if Nan can look after the children then whywould someone need a degree?
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
