Early Years Workforce Commission set up to tackle recruitment crisis

The Early Years Workforce Commission is set to undertake a review of issues including low-pay, high stress levels and a lack of male employees in the sector.

The workforce crisis has been widely reported with many employees leaving their “vocation” for higher paid jobs such as retail and admin roles.

The commission's lead group is made up of representatives from leading early years organisations including:

• Cache, the organisation for early years and childcare qualifications
• Ceeda research
• The Early Years Alliance 
• Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (Pacey)
• Tactyc
  
• National Day Nurseries Association
• London Early Years Foundation (LEYF)
• The Sutton Trust
• Voice, the union for education professionals
• The Education Policy Institute

It will look at progress made in recruitment and retention of the early years workforce since the Nutbrown Review in 2012, which recommended to government the need for a well-qualified, well-paid workforce.

• How to address the childminder decline

• 'Invest in the childcare workforce to get best outcomes for children'

The group aims to develop recommendations to boost sustainability in the sector and improve the quality of provision.

A report set to be published later this year will offer solutions designed to: 

• Improve the basic training of those entering the sector.
• Improve quality and take-up of CPD for those already in the sector.
• Explore the implications of low levels of pay.
• Improve recruitment and retention across the workforce.
• Demonstrate the impact and crucial role of the early years workforce in society.

The launch of the commission comes following a roundtable event at the House of Commons in 2018.

Speaking on behalf of the commission, Julie Hyde, executive director of education and training at NCFE and Cache, said: “It became clear that whilst the problems facing the sector were well-established, to move the conversation forward, we needed to develop evidence-based solutions. After further discussion we decided to focus on workforce issues. Whilst these are just one part of the puzzle, we believe that an effective workforce strategy is crucial to underpin the long-term sustainability of the sector and quality of provision.

“Ultimately, we want to ensure the long-term sustainability of this sector, which plays such a crucial role in our society and economy.”

“To enable us to develop a strong and credible set of recommendations, we will be working closely with organisations across the sector and beyond and we would encourage anyone who wants to be involved to share their ideas.”

Professor Cathy Nutbrown, said: “High-quality early years provision is crucial to society. It is vital that the women and men who work with babies, toddlers and young children have the knowledge, skills, understanding and aptitude to appropriately support their learning and development. In so doing, they should be entitled to opportunities to develop successful and rewarding careers. 

“I look forward to supporting the group with this timely and important work and seeing the final report and recommendations.”