As a result, it is calling for their pay to be brought in line withteachers'.
YES: Purnima Tanuku, chief executive, National Day Nurseries Association- If we are talking about early years professionals, they should be atthe same level of pay and conditions as qualified teachers. You can'targue for better-qualified staff but not be prepared to pay themequally. There is of course an issue of affordability. How many daynurseries will be able to pay? The indications are that not many havetaken up the Transformation Fund released this year to support trainingand qualifications of staff in day nurseries.
NO: Chris Keates, general secretary, NASUWT - It's not the same job soyou wouldn't expect the rates of pay to be the same. I think with anyjob the rate of pay has to reflect training and level of responsibility,and people should be paid the rate for the job they do in that context.Most childcare workers don't undertake the same role as teachers so tocompare their salaries is a false comparison, although a senior careworker could be paid more than some grades of teacher. However,childcare workers should be paid a proper wage and one that recognisesthe work they do.
YES: Sue Owen, director, Early Childhood Unit, National Children'sBureau - Childcare workers should definitely be paid on a scale relatedto that used for others who work with children. The Government now has atarget for early years group settings to be led by graduatepractitioners and we have a new, early years professional status. Sothere is absolutely no reason why pay scales shouldn't begin to bemerged. This is the only way that we can ensure we provide high-quality,consistent services from professionals in a structured career.
YES BUT: Abby Auty, owner, Red Balloon day nursery in Cobham - Inprinciple yes, but in practice they can't. I agree that, in terms of theresponsibility that the childcare workers have, their pay rates are lowand poor. But from a business side of things we operate on slim marginsand in order to pay more we would have to pass that cost on to ourcustomers. Childcare already represents such a huge cost that it's notsomething we can do. I would love to be able to pay more but we couldn'tcontinue to be a sustainable business.
