Government plan to provide early years education on the cheap will hit children and staff, warns UNISON
Responding to an Early Years Alliance survey issued today (Friday) showing strong opposition to a government proposal to increase the number of children nursery staff can care for, UNISON head of education Mike Short said:
“This proposal offers no benefit to children or staff.
“Short-sighted ministers are gambling with children’s development, life chances and safety. Demoralised workers already heading for the exit will feel they’ve made the right decision, while desperately needed new staff will be put off joining, just when the sector needs them most.
“The government must commit to long-term investment in early years education. Anything less sends out the appalling message that children’s early years development is not a priority and highly-skilled staff are dispensable.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.