CEY0031
Written evidence submitted by a member of the public
Childcare Entitlements
- How affordable and easy to understand is the current provision of childcare in England and what steps, if any, could be taken to improve it, especially in relation to families living within the most deprived areas in England?
Speaking with over 20 years’ experience working in childcare as a provider and now as an educator at a large chain nursery, I feel that quality has been compromised by quantity. Where nurseries are too busy recruiting staff in order to meet the child/adult ratio so that they can generate more revenue. Many nurseries make long speeches stating that they only employee staff that have passion and dedication in supporting children to develop their early learning goals …. Young staff lack patience with children, therefore affecting good attachment. Staff may have qualifications in childcare but don’t understand child development. Children are moulded by the environment that they grow up in, which includes all early year settings.
- Are the current entitlements providing parents/carers with sufficient childcare, and to what extent are childcare costs affecting parents/carers from returning to work full-time?
Parents have always assumed that children develop learning skills through a nursery and that a childminder is only a babysitter. But in truth, learning is happening regardless, it is influenced by teaching methods, attachment, communication, and resources/materials available.
Nurseries increase their charges depending on the area that they are in, knowing that parents will pay more in affluent locations. Childminders normally charge an hourly rate weekly or monthly based on the number of hours that parents require. Whereas nurseries will charge a set fee.
- Whether the current Tax-Free Childcare scheme, and support for childcare from the benefits and tax credit system, is working effectively or whether these subsidies could be better used within other childcare subsidies
I don’t know how schemes are run anymore but to avoid misuse, payments of fees should be made directly by HMRC to the provider. For a childminder the registration number should be cross referenced so that if the same number has been used by another set of parents in the past, they cannot use it again if they are no longer in need of childcare, and vice-versa. A better use of subsidies would be to teach parenting and child development as mandatory in High School.
Early years provision
- What challenges do early years providers face in terms of workforce, including recruiting, and retaining qualified staff, and the barriers faced by individuals joining the profession? To what extent has the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated workforce challenges?
Many young people take up nursery positions with qualifications but not enough experience, lacking patients, understanding, compassion and respect. Many Room leaders/managers want to ‘control’ staff through micromanaging, this creates a hostile working environment regardless of children being present, staff are affected by the way they are treated, and this can have a ripple effect, reflected in how they snap at the children.
On the other hand, you may have too many ‘Queen bees’ where staff have become too complacent that pay no attention to their room leaders, doing as they please, eventually leading to high staff turnovers when senior management don’t support their room leaders. (Without staff a nursery would not be able to meet the ratio, whereas one room leader can be replaced)
Maths GCE should not be a requirement in an early year’s qualification, it does not serve any purpose in early childhood development. There are many mothers who are prevented from joining the childcare profession, even though they have compassion and communication skills which would make then an asset in this field.
- Whether the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) system is meeting the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN), and the improvements that could be made to better support young children with SEN within early years provisions
Children with autism need one to one attention, many parents are crying out for help but instead the council waste time making continuous assessments when it is evident from the assessors first visit that a child needs one to one attention, based on their behaviour and detachment from other children and lack of involvement with everyday activities. Staff are unable to manage 20 plus children and a child that has SEN. Which then affects all children and their learning.
- To what extent does the early years system adequately prepare young children for their transition into primary education, particularly children from disadvantaged backgrounds
You stick a label using the words ‘disadvantaged backgrounds’ stop. Children accept that people are all different and it is our differences that make us unique. Schools have always provided resources such as computers etc for children. Sharing books, using the library, is what most people have grown up with. Transition into primary school can be emotional for any child no matter how many years we go back to in history.
- The extent to which the reduction of Sure Start Children's Centres has affected children and families, particularly children from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the role of Family Hubs
Young parents need support with parenting classes so that they can care for and support their children’s wellbeing, learning and development. Why would anyone want to limit the help this would benefit the next generation?
January 2023