To think nursery staff are overworked?

[Thechainsmokers12]

Not all obviously, but I worked as a temp in one recently. Full-time staff worked from 8-6 usually with only a 30 minute break, 5 days a week. No school holidays too as it’s open all year round.
There’s a lot of paperwork involved, it’s likely for Ofsted, seems like it’s all about documenting everything and ticking boxes.
It’s a very demanding job and many of them are paid minimum wage or slightly over. I’m sure they do it as they love children, but once again makes me realise how jobs that involve looking after people are so underpaid and undervalued.

Then they can look for another job?

Yep over worked and underpaid. Some train to become teachers which is still a lot of work and paperwork but at least better pay.

I agree we vastly underpay for childcare at nursery. My partner is a level 3 qualified nursery worker and rarely gets the days off they want gets the statuary minimum holiday's and barely above minimum wage. And due to the rubbish wages rely a lot on foreign workers.

Yep. Nothing else to say there.

Theres always someone who says they can look for another job, if they did who would look after the children?
Its the same as when the government says we will upskill everyone rather than make businesses pay a decent wage.
If everyone upskilled who will do the jobs they are currently doing, and clearly there aren't enough higher paid jobs.
But no one ever offers a solution, as the answer is clearly not very palatable to hear.
That basically those that by chance or nature are not as able but work hard dont deserve to be paid a fair living wage.

The difficulty is full time nursery round here is well over 10k. They can’t charge anymore to pay staff better wages because people can barely afford it as it is.

Well by law they only have to have a 20 minute break if they work more than six hours, so 30 minutes isn’t bad.

But yeah, they’re underpaid.

It's not people who are less able that go into childcare Ohmygodyesthatsit
Many of us have degrees and early years teacher status, which is a post graduate level course.

I agree, it's a really tough job and deserves a higher salary

@Ohmygodyesthatsit

Theres always someone who says they can look for another job, if they did who would look after the children? Its the same as when the government says we will upskill everyone rather than make businesses pay a decent wage. If everyone upskilled who will do the jobs they are currently doing, and clearly there aren't enough higher paid jobs. But no one ever offers a solution, as the answer is clearly not very palatable to hear. That basically those that by chance or nature are not as able but work hard dont deserve to be paid a fair living wage.

Then what do you suggest we do? I'm sorry. But it sounds all "poor me". Get people to protest, complain to the higher authority for better recognition. To be honest, if more people left childcare, the government will notice (as they did with teachers.. see all the adverts?) and think of ways to better value the profession. I'm in a profession that is not well paid. I don't sit around complaining. I undertake additional training and will move if needs be.

People are leaving the profession, in droves. Its practically impossible to recruit at the moment.
But the government won't do anything about it, its nothing to do with them, nurseries are in the main part private businesses.

But they can't pay more as they can't charge more, or else parents won't be able to afford childcare.
And those that are not leaving are the highly trained and committed ones, dedicated to improving outcomes for the youngest children. Just like teachers, but for younger children.

@Zorinindustries sorry i should have read it and checked it does sound like i was saying that I didnt mean it to read that way. The less able was a general point about lower paid work not nursery workers who are often well trained and educated, my apologies if i offended.

Out of interest where does the money go? If not on wages? What are the fees spent on - I know it’s a business so there will be some profit but are the expense to run?

This isn't the case in all nurseries. Ours does 8 hour shifts, and longer breaks. Staff are also paid well, and given regular training and development.

The Government wouldn’t give a shit!! Why do you think they would @secular39?

Doctors and Nurses are leaving the NHS in droves and all the Government do is lie and try to cover it up.

It’s says a lot about our society the way we treat the workers that we absolutely depend upon and can’t do without. We treat them badly and pay them peanuts.

I do think they get paid very little for long hours and a lot of responsibility. I’m not sure what the answer is though. A full time place at nursery around me is over £14,500 a year per child without funded hours (which only apply to children over 3). Even using the tax free childcare it is still £12,500 out of take home pay. And I have two children at nursery too! As previous posters have said, anymore and it really is unaffordable for some parents

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Where does the money go? Rent or mortgage, maintenance, toys, craft resources, recruitment, training, food, non income generating staff such cooks and cleaners and admin, furniture (you would be shocked how much something like a water tray or role play oven costs, you can't just buy from argos, due to the amount of use they get) other equipment like cots , sleep mats and chairs etc.
That's just off the top of my head, sure there is much more as well.
But most of the money is spent on wages, especially for under 2s.

@Ohmygodyesthatsit excuse me Nursery workers are not unskilled! I have a degree thank you very much. Im a nanny now but nursery work I’d not unskilled.

@HOkieCOkie please see my earlier explanation and apology.

Completely agree. I'd pay ours more, to be honest. They do an amazing job.

@scrunchies our nursery is £45 a day. There is a ratio of 1:3 toddler:adult so that's only £135 they can make per day per staff member. Minimum living wage is £8.91, a day is 9.5 hours long (8-5.30), that's £84.65 just on staff alone.

With the remaining £50 a day, there's food, nappies, other staff costs (management, chef, cleaners/assistants), rent/mortgage, insurance, taxes, utilities, toys, building/garden maintenance, a well deserved profit, etc, etc.

I pay what seems like a lot in childcare but it really isn't much when you break down the costs! I'm really happy with the care provided by the nursery and try to be as nice as I can to the staff.

They are underpaid for sure. Overworked depends on the nursery, at ours they work 40hrs over 4 days if full time with 2 breaks. So they get a fixed weekday off every week which seems to work well. It’s private, independent (not a chain).
But pay isn’t much over minimum wage and I do wonder how they cope. No foreign workers at ours though and the staff are brilliant, professional and highly motivated. It’s amazing tbh, I’m often in awe. The owner is very good and hands on.

Agree, they are underpaid. But I can't afford to pay more. It's 19k a year w/o funded hours near me.

We need more government help for the workers to help with retention and moral

Definitely underpaid and overworked, considering each staff member is technically responsible for 3, 5, 8 or more children's wellbeing depending on ratios it's disgusting how little they are paid.
From experience the bigger chains tend to be worse for it, your just a number so to speak.
A lot of people have left or are leaving the industry, myself included, because of this.
It's such a rewarding job and the bond you create with each child is amazing but it's one of the hardest working yet lowest paid jobs around.

Absolutely. Incredibly hard and not valued enough