Initial Response to Childcare Consultation

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    On the 25th

    of March 2013 David submitted a community response to the Department for

    Educations consultation on Early Education and Childcare Staff Deployment.

    Question 1

    In nursery classes for 3- and 4-year-olds where a qualified graduate is working with the children,

    it is already possible to run groups on the basis of one adult to thirteen children. Yet too fewproviders, especially in the private and voluntary sector, take advantage of this flexibility, despite

    the evidence about the benefits that this graduate leadership can have for children.

    How might providers be encouraged to make greater use of graduate-led groups for children

    aged three and over?

    The vast majority of respondents mentioned higher pay and many remarked that salaries should be

    comparable to those working in teaching as suggested on page 17 and 18 ofMore great childcare.

    Many respondents also highlighted the importance of career progression and opportunities to get

    into management. A common suggestion for how to achieve this was to ensure that staff receive onthe job training rather than increasing the requirement for a higher level qualification.

    Quotes supporting this summary included:

    Less paperwork, better pay

    Salaries should be comparable with those in education sector

    There should be clear progression opportunities

    Management training included in childcare courses

    Increase pay

    Higher salaries

    Clear career progression opportunities

    Recognisingthe hard work involved

    Early years practitioners follow EYFS framework (as do teachers) but in comparison to teachers get

    paid a fraction of a teaching salary for working longer hours with less holiday.

    Invest in training

    The wages paid must be raised

    Question 2

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    Alongside our plans to improve qualifications for people working in childcare, the Government

    proposes that, where staff are suitably qualified, they can look after:

    no more than four children aged under two to each adult; and no more than six two-year old children to each adult.

    What qualifications do you think staff should have to allow them to operate with these more

    flexible arrangements? For instance, we could require settings to meet one of the followingcriteria in order to be able to operate higher ratios:

    70 per cent of staff qualified to at least Level 3; 100 per cent of staff qualified to at least Level 3; 100 per cent of staff have at least a C in English and Maths; At least one graduate in the setting plus 70 per cent of other staff qualified to at least

    Level 3; or

    Ratios based on the individuals working with children - so that only a staff member with aLevel 3 qualification and/or English and Maths GCSE can use the higher ratio

    Please note these examples are not exhaustive and we would welcome other suggestions.

    Chart to show responses to the question: How far do you agree with the following statement

    What qualifications do you think staff should have to allow them to operate with these more

    flexible arrangements?

    20 per cent of respondents answered Most staff qualified with a childcare diploma (orequivalent Level 3 qualification).

    40 per cent of respondents answered All staff qualified with a childcare diploma (or equivalentLevel 3 qualification).

    30 per cent of respondents answered All staff to have at least a C in English and Maths GCSE. None of the respondents answered Someone with a degree level qualification and most of

    other staff with a diploma or equivalent.

    10 per cent of respondents answered The above ratios should only apply to people qualifiedand not unqualified adults working in the childcare sector.

    50 per cent of respondents also commented on this question. Whilst the scope of comments made

    varied, the majority of respondents mentioned how important experience was with some

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    respondents suggesting that the level of experience an early years childcare worker had was more

    important than the level of qualification that they held.

    Quotes supporting this summary included:

    It is more important that the staff are caring and have necessary experience.

    You don't need a degree to look after kids, Level Two is sufficient. All I need to know as a parent of

    a 2 year old is: are my nursery staff experienced and are they safe and are they teaching my little

    one to get on with other kids.

    Question 3

    We are proposing that, while not exceeding more than 6 children in total, childminders should

    have more flexibility to care for up to four children under the age of five, including no more than

    two children under 12 months.

    What difference do you think this will make to the childminding profession and what benefits do

    you think parents will get?

    The overwhelming majority (64 per cent of total respondents and 90 per cent of respondents who

    answered this question) of respondents didnt think parents would benefit from these changes to

    the childminding profession. Many (70 per cent) answers referenced the increased pressure

    childminders would be put under with many alluding to the fact that childminders would be

    encouraged to take more children because of the financial benefit. Almost all respondents thought

    that the quality of childcare would fall with some even suggesting that the increased ratio would be

    unsafe for children. The only positive comments received said that the changes would benefitparents of twins.

    Quotes supporting this summary included:

    Parents will get no benefits as childminders will still charge the same hourly rate to all children.

    Having too many children under a certain age group is a risk to the childrens safety.

    Childminders could be pressured into taking more children than they can cope with.

    I would be unhappy to leave my child with somebody looking after so many children.

    I think it will encourage child minders to care for more children putting themselves under

    increased pressure and stress. It will also reduce the quality of care and education they can

    provide.

    I can't see any benefits to the parents or the children. It is very difficult to be the only adult

    responsible for a group of young children and two under 1s would be very demanding.

    You will scare off good care-workers that don't have the education to cope with the paperwork

    but are great with kids. At the end of the day, I don't see my nursery putting their prices down after

    letting good staff go.

    Some change will help parents of twins.

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    Question 4

    Are there any other elements of our proposals that you wish to comment on specifically?

    23 per cent of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement I am satisfied with

    the choice of early years childcare in Bradford.

    23 per cent of respondents agreed with the statement 'I am satisfied with the price of early years

    childcare in Bradford', however no one strongly agreed.

    46 per cent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement I am satisfied with the

    quality of the staff working at childcare providers in Bradford.

    Chart to show responses to the question: How far do you agree with the following statement I

    am satisfied with the quality of the staff working at childcare providers in Bradford.

    10 per cent of respondents disagreed with the statement I think a childcare agency which helps

    childminders set up their own businesses, provides training and matches child minders with parents

    is a good idea.

    None of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement I think the Government's

    plans for reforming childcare will make early years childcare provision better. Instead, 20%

    disagreed and 50% strongly disagreed.

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    Chart to show responses to the question: How far do you agree with the following statement I

    think the Government's plans for reforming childcare will make early years childcare provision

    better.

    Insights from Bradford East:

    Child care courses should reflect the responsibilities of the post held, entry requirement should be

    high. The training should be to a high standard and students required to evidence a high level of

    skills and knowledge. Recognition of childcare qualifications should be reflected in salaries and

    value given to the role of childcarer/educator.

    I work with somebody who pays more for childcare than she earns but she wants to work.

    The planned reforms will, in my opinion, have a negative effect on the quality of care offered. The

    cost of child care is far too high however this is not the way to tackle the issue.

    Childminders who struggle or who are not business minded may benefit from an agency.

    Conclusion

    1. Generally respondents agreed with the recommendation made in More great childcare thatchildcare workers should be well qualified and that the level of qualification needed to workwith early years children should be raised.

    2. Generally respondents were not happy with plans to increase the number of children childcareworkers could look after at any one time even if qualification levels were increased as they felt

    that the quality of care provided would fall without reducing costs to parents.

    The Department for Education may need to look at whether this is because people

    fundamentally disagree that better qualified staff can look after more children at one time, or

    because the benefits resulting from the proposed changes have not been properly

    communicated.

    3. Generally respondents agreed that Childminder Agencies were a good way of supporting theearly years childcare sector.