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Alliance comments on reported subsidy for graduate workforce

NEWS RELEASE

3 January 2006

Alliance comments on reported subsidy for graduate workforce

The Pre-school Learning Alliance, a leading early years charity, today commented on a recent report in The Times newspaper on possible Government plans to use the Transformation Fund to subsidise graduate employees in nurseries and pre-schools.

Commenting on the report, Steve Alexander, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance said

“The investment in the early years workforce is to be welcomed. It marks for the first time that the government accept the early years is not a free market. Until now, the government line has been that the wages in the non-maintained childcare sector have been a matter strictly between employer and employee. The deliberate introduction into the workforce of graduates and the subsidising of their wages sets a welcome precedent for future investment in the early years and childcare workforce.

Having said this, it is vital that this subsidy is invested wisely. High quality outcomes have been shown to be linked to levels of staff qualifications, but we would question the effectiveness of parachuting in graduates, rather than working to raise the qualification levels of all childcare workers. What is needed is full workforce reform, creating a new profession with a clear career structure, the opportunity for progression taking into account several routes to qualification and importantly, fair pay for all. The Pre-school Learning Alliance believes that high quality, affordable childcare can only be provided through the creation of a qualified, valued workforce.”

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Anna Roberts
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7014 9304
Out of hours press calls: 07979 531 130
E: Anna Roberts

Notes for Editors:

  1. The Pre-school Learning Alliance is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.
  2. Through direct provision and its membership of 15,000 nurseries, sessional pre-schools and parent and toddler groups, the Alliance supports over 800,000 children and their families in England. The Alliance also develops and runs family learning programmes, offers information and advice, runs acclaimed training and accreditation programmes and campaigns to influence early years policy and practice.
  3. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website: www.pre-school.org.uk
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