ÎÞÂëÌìÌÃ

by Jess Gibson

57% of nursery and pre-school staff and 38% of childminders are considering quitting the early years sector, new research from the Early Education and Childcare Coalition (EECC) has revealed. 

The study, , was completed in conjunction with the University of Leeds. It reveals the true scale of the recruitment and retention crisis across the early years sector ahead of the rollout of the extended entitlement offers to one- and two-year-olds, due to start in April 2024. 

The report estimates that almost 50,000 additional staff could be needed in 2024 – and again in 2025 – to maintain existing provision and provide the expanded entitlement. However, according to the study findings, just 17% of settings will be able to increase the number of places on offer due to recruitment and retention difficulties, while 35% would limit the number of places offered unless the government provided more funding and support to recruit and retain staff. 

Researchers cite increases to staff:child ratios as a key factor that has led to an increase in early years professionals wanting to leave the sector. 

Commenting, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the ÎÞÂëÌìÌÃ, said: 

“This report shows just how short-sighted the government’s plan to expand the early entitlement offers are.  

"It's clear that the early year workforce is in crisis, but rather than addressing existing challenges, the government has instead decided to blindly promise more early years places to families when it's clear there are nowhere near enough educators to be able to deliver this – something ministers would have known if they had properly engaged with the sector before charging ahead with this policy. 

"The fact is that early educators are leaving in their droves, and, unless government takes urgent action to tackling this worrying trend, the expansion will be nothing more than a pipe dream, leaving families disappointed and vital money and time wasted. 

"At the ÎÞÂëÌìÌÃ, we know just how vital a role the early years workforce have in children's development, but years of underfunding and a lack of a meaningful workforce plan has meant this has yet to be recognised and reflected in their pay and career opportunities.  

"If the government is to have any chance of creating the additional places it has promised to families, it must work with the sector – and, crucially, provide the investment needed – to ensure that there are enough high-quality educators to actually deliver them."