Childcare professionals reject DfE plans to simplify staff management

The Department for Education’s childcare regulation reforms consultation outlines plans to change safeguarding and welfare requirements for providers on the Early Years Register.

The department wants to replace the zero- to five-year-olds registration scheme with one that will cover children aged up to seven – the Child Safety Register.

The new register will remove the requirements for providers to give staff “regular appraisals, or support to improve qualification levels”.

National Day Nurseries Association chief executive Purnima Tanuku said the proposals were "shortsighted, effectively creating a one-size-fits-all set of rules”.

“Qualified, trained staff are vital to meet the varied needs of children aged between zero and seven, and it would surely be more sensible to extend the zero to five regulations rather than lose them altogether,” said Tanuku.

“Removing the requirement for regular appraisals will impact on the quality of staff development and ultimately the children who need the most support.

“Well-run nurseries with strong management practices will appraise and train their staff regardless of the regulations so this is not a burden. However for weaker nurseries it would be removing what is currently at least a minimum standard."

Tanuku added that the sector needed guidance over what funding support there will be for staff who want to gain a Level 2 qualification and go beyond this.

She added: “All staff should be supported to gain qualifications and many will be aspiring to be early years teachers and early years educators.

“On the one hand the government wants the sector to push for staff development so what does removing the need for a basic qualification signal?”

Tanuku’s criticisms were shared by a spokesman from trade union Aspect.

“There should be regular appraisals for childcare staff for two reasons: to ensure safeguarding provisions are well maintained and to ensure the competence of early years workers is also maintained,” he said.

He also said that two new early years qualifications the government is in the process of creating – Early Years Teachers and Early Year Educators – sent mixed messages to the sector over training standards and regulation.

“There is an increasing contradiction in the government’s position – it’s arguing for raising standards, which is laudable, but there’s also a light touch mentality.”

Annex A of the regulation consultation proposes to remove current requirements that providers “ensure regular staff appraisals are carried out to identify any training needs, and secure opportunities for continued professional development for staff”.

Providers are currently also expected to support their staff to improve qualification levels “wherever possible”.

“For staff without a relevant qualification, providers should consider supporting them to obtain a relevant Level 2 qualification,” states the DfE.

The department proposes new requirements will state simply: “Providers must ensure people looking after children are suitable; and are supported to undertake appropriate training and development opportunities.”