Fighting for recognition of the Early Years workforce

Community is proud to represent early years professionals across the nations and regions of the UK. The early years sector faces a range of challenges, including the underfunding of childcare settings by the previous Conservative government, and a recruitment and retention crisis which has been compounded over recent years by stagnant pay and a lack of proper recognition for staff.

That’s why we launched our Early Years’ Charter last summer, highlighting the need for recognition of the specialised work that early years staff and nannies undertake. The Charter also set out the need for increased funding for early years settings to cover the cost of provision, as well as improved wages for staff.

At our 2024 Biennial Delegate Conference, Community members discussed the need for further research into long-term benefits of investment in the early years sector.

Community’ spokesperson for Early Years, Letitia McCalla said:

“Community has already undertaken excellent work on behalf of our members in the sector, notably through the introduction of the Early Years Charter. That Charter, with its commitment to proper recognition of the specialised work that early years staff and nannies undertake, as well as increased funding for early years’ settings and improved wages for hard-working staff, will remain an important campaigning tool for us.

“We welcome David Bell’s planned review of the issues facing the sector on behalf of the Labour Party, which combined with our Charter will help inform engagement with the new UK Labour government as well as the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“There is still scope for further research into the long-term benefits of strategic investment in the Early Years sector, incorporating the experiences of staff here and evidence from other countries and regions with successful provision frameworks: notably Canada, Scandinavia, Italy, Australia and New Zealand.”

At our conference, Community members and our National Executive committed to a broad programme of research, which is set to include:

• Researching the skill set used by those in the early years workforce with five years’ experience, highlighting best practice.
• Researching remuneration for the early years workforce in other countries, with successful early years provision e.g. Scandinavia, Australia, Italy, New Zealand and Canada.
• Comparing PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) results between the above countries with our own.
• Comparing the GDP of the above countries with our own.
• Comparing the happiness levels of the above countries with our own.
• Comparing the criminal conviction and educational levels between the above countries with our own.
• Comparing the employment levels of the above countries with our own.

Our aim is to use the research findings to assess how long term and strategic investment in early years sector transforms life chances; enriching and benefitting society as whole. We will also want to explore how we can ensure that workers can benefit from this investment and raise the aspiration within Early Years for workers, so the sector can move from low paid insecure work to a system where pay scales exist and career progression is the norm. The NEC will report back its findings and taking appropriate action in response.

Read more on our Early Years Charter here.

Join the union for Early Years, Nursery Workers and Nannies

Community is the union for education and early years professionals: representing teachers, headteachers, education, school support staff and early years staff. With over fifty years’ experience, we represent members and campaign to improve conditions for education and early years professionals. We are a modern trade union, campaigning for a better working world.

Join today!

If you are a member of Community and need advice or support, please contact our Service Centre at help@community-tu.org or on 0800 389 6332.