To think the government should subside the wages of nursery/preschool staff?

[Bumpitybumper]

I am absolutely shocked about how badly nursery and preschool workers are paid and really feel that the government should intervene in this area in order to raise standards and make these jobs more desirable for talented, motivated individuals.

The current system just doesn't seem to work as SAHPs are the minority as more people need or choose to work. This obviously creates increasing demand for childcare places and therefore staff but these positions are poorly paid, under valued and lack career progression. Most parents either can't afford to pay higher fees and fund higher wages or don't want to as they want to turn a "profit" from working even if they are in relatively low/averagely paid jobs.

I think if most parents were honest we would hope and expect the staff at our childcare providers to be motivated and diligent but if we had adult children with these traits I think we would be encouraging them to enter other professions with more opportunities and better pay. Surely we therefore realistically are looking at a situation where the majority of childcare workers will be those who are lacking skills and motivation and have no better opportunities (and as almost every other field pays more for a comparative level of responsibility there are a lot of "better" opportunities out there).

This seems madness when the vast majority of parents would rank their children as the most important people in their lives and would recognise that their care in the formative years is really important. AIBU unreasonable to think the government must step in here?

A - they already do to a degree with childcare tax credits paid to parents to pay them with, with working tax credits paid to their employees, free hours where the govt pay them direct...

B - the problem is the bosses not wanting to pay them a decent wage. I've worked in the field and been a parent touring nurseries and frankly the owners are in massive posh houses, driving flash cars and wearing designer clobber! They absolutely could afford to pay their employees better they choose not to! It's greed! Sarahani - that's absolutely been my observation too - and across 4 counties too!

Bringing in an ACTUAL living wage would mean

• nursery owners would have to pay staff a decent wage
• Parents would have more money to pay for childcare.

Many nurseries actually don’t make a lot of profit. Where I work is in a deprived area so we don’t have any fee-paying children, we just get government funding. We have on average 20 children per session who get approximately £4 per hour from the government. It needs 5 staff plus a manager to run that session, staff work 40 hours a week at minimum wage plus the manager’s salary. The funding is term time only, so are the staff but there is holiday pay on top of that. Factor in employee tax, rent, bills, snacks, resources, insurance, training, uniforms, staff to cover lunch breaks and non-contact time, etc. Resources are not just a few toys - things need replacing regularly, then there are craft materials, messy play, sand, play dough, baking, stationery, printer ink, cameras, computers, etc.
I’m 31 with a degree and a lot of experience and I’m paid minimum wage. I just can’t ever see it changing, and while I could go work in a supermarket for more, I wouldn’t enjoy it. Nobody chooses to work in early years for the money or an easy life, but I agree that we should be recognised for the importance of our job. It can feel frustrating at times but I do have a choice not to do it.

Someone asked about other European countries, under the coalition there were plans to change the ratios so each staff member could look after more, so less jobs in nursery, hopefully room for better pay and less costs to families. The liberals blocked it and it hasn’t come back. Here’s the first comparison article I found. www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.daynurseries.co.uk/news/amp/article/id/1563511/childcare-how-uk-compares-europe Thanks for this thread it reminded me to pay this month’s bill!

The staff in my nursery earn above minimum wage but not massively over it - we just couldn't afford to pay more unfortunately. As a previous poster has said, there are extra staff not included in ratio - the manager, admin, the cook plus a spare staff member each day to cover breaks etc...Nurseries obviously make a profit - if they didn't who the hell would own one!!! It's a lot of stress believe me...

I heard on the radio yesterday that we're investing £4bn in Africa, so obv there is some money to be invested.

"0-4 children need care, not ‘educatiion'"

My child had a statement of sen when he was 3, applied for when he was 2. He most definitely had a need for education.

It's interesting to see this thread when others complain that childcare is too expensive

This thread is about the need for a subsidy. If primary schools were private, very few children would ever get to school, because it all costs.

sleepyblueocean

I’m sorry to hear about your DS 💐

...but, what could a nursery staff member do for your DS that you couldn’t have done yourself? (Serious question, not at all ‘goady’)

Same goes for Healthcare Assistants and carers for elderly and disabled people.

Incredibly important job looking after people's loved ones. Mentally and physically exhausting.

Paid a pittance.

I agree with you op. Oh and all that about the government stepping in to help those on a low wage. Well that's very kind of them, but People shouldn't need extra help.
Wages alone should be enough to live on.
If you're going out working full time and can't pay your bills with out tax credits to hold your hand. There is clearly something not right.

Oh and to the poster who said. Working in a nursery is not for profit. Every job is for profit.

You don't honestly think people get up out of bed a cunt o'clock in hail rain thunder snow and wind for fun do you.
Trust me if my lottery numbers cone out tonight. I certainly won't be returning to work.

"but, what could a nursery staff member do for your DS that you couldn’t have done yourself? (Serious question, not at all ‘goady’)"

Nursery provided a safe place where he had opportunities to be around other adults and children - he couldn't cope with toddler groups and activities.
It meant he could do things that were messy without my having to worry about managing the clearing up and keeping him safe at the same time.
It gave me a break from my usual 18 hour days and enabled me to do things like go into a shop without screaming and other distress.
It meant he had access to specialist outside support and his needs were fully known before he started school.

His nursery was a nursery school that was set up and resourced to take children with disabilities alongside 'mainstream' children. This sort of early help is vital for children like mine.

They are subsidised it's called tax credits.
Introduced to allow big companies to pay low wages and be subsidised by the government ie us.