Early Years Charter

It is no secret that the early years sector has faced several challenges in recent years, but the situation has now reached a breaking point with many providers struggling financially, and some even being forced to close.

Our Early Years Charter sets out key changes that we want to see implemented for the early years workforce, including early years and nursery staff, teachers, and professionals, as well as nursery managers, child carers and nannies.

Everyone who works in the early years sector plays a vital role in delivering quality early years education to children across the UK, however many who work in the sector feel undervalued, overworked, and underpaid. Because of this, it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit and retain early years professionals, especially those holding higher level qualifications.

We want to change this, but we need the government to acknowledge these issues and address them for the situation to improve. Our charter is calling on government to:

• Recognise that early years staff and nannies are educators not babysitters.
• Recognise of the specialised work that early years staff and nannies undertake.
• Increase funding for early years settings that adequately covers the cost of provision.
• Improve wages for staff in recognition of the specialised work they do and to support recruitment and retention into the sector.
• Raise the profile of nannies and other early years professionals to address the recruitment and retention crisis.
• Streamline professional development opportunities for staff.

Get involved in our Early Years Charter

If you agree with us that early years workers deserve better then sign our Early Years Charter today, and help make impactful change to the sector. If you have any queries, please get in touch at earlyyears@community-tu.org.