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Why are early years workers always the poor relation?

February 25th, 2010

It doesn’t seem to matter which way you look at it from. Early years workers always seem to be the ones expected to be very grateful for a poor second best.

You may have seen coverage of the plans to introduce a new pilot scheme similar to the “Teach First” scheme in early years (tender details are here). The Teach First scheme (about which more can be found here) was set up to drive the recruitment of the very best graduates into school teaching. Although controversial it has nevertheless become part of the landscape in schools.

The pilot for a similar scheme for early years would, of course, therefore be expected to be very similar? Well you would have thought wouldn’t you?

Except … well let’s look at the pay that is predicted. Yes, it’s lower – and quite a bit lower – up to £3000 or £4000 in practice (quite a big deal if you’ve got a £20000 student loan to pay back?). And of course no school holidays (even if teachers do end up using their holidays to do planning, at least they do get the chance to plan then). No pension scheme either.

So what about the career prospects and salary structure after the two year period is up? Well if you’re on Teach First you would have QTS so you’d be straight onto the teachers’ pay scales. Those undertaking the new early years scheme, gaining EYPS … well we all know the problems there.

Aspect’s view was summed up by John Chowcat, Aspect General Secretary, in CYP Now this week. It is simply unacceptable that yet again early years is to be the poor relation for yet another new scheme.

The CWDC say they want the very best graduates. And there is no question our children deserve the very best. But yet again the reality of early years is that the workers throughout the sector are expected to live and work on pride and goodwill.

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Work your proper hours day: 26 February

February 25th, 2010

Are you ready for Work Your Proper Hours Day? It’s this Friday – 26 February.

So what does that mean? It’s the day when, according to official statistics, the average person who does unpaid overtime stops working for free, and starts to earn for themselves. Along with lots of other unions led by the TUC, we think that is a day we should celebrate. So what can you do to mark the day?

  • Above all, for at least that one day, work only your proper contracted hours
  • Take a proper lunch-break, not just a sandwich at your desk
  • Arrive on time having not touched your email or turned up early to “just get sorted”
  • Leave on time and enjoy your freedom and your own life on Friday evening

For more ideas visit the official website: www.workyourproperhoursday.com

The costs

Let’s take a look at the figures:

  • employees who do unpaid overtime in UK on average do an extra seven hours twelve minutes work a week
  • they would take home an extra £5,402 a year if they were paid the average wage!
  • or … another way of looking at it: these employees contributed a whacking great £27.4 billion worth of unpaid overtime in 2009.

Brendan Barber from the TUC said:
Most employers are understandably focused on fighting their way through the recession. But they shouldn’t overlook working cultures such as pointless presenteeism – keeping people at their desks for no good reason. Regular over-long hours cause stress and damage people’s health and productivity – they’re bad for staff and bad for business too.

Visit the website now to find out more, download posters, send your friends e-cards, and take part in the long hours advice quiz.

And above all – make sure you enjoy your own free time on Friday. Tell us what you’re doing to celebrate!

www.workyourproperhoursday.com

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EYP National Committee Roundup

February 12th, 2010

Aspect’s EYP National Committee – who lead, steer, supervise and drive our EYP work – meet regularly to ensure we are on track and to think about next steps.

Our latest meeting was held recently in London. As well as the formal committee (all EYP members of course), John Chowcat (Aspect’s General Secretary), Helen Willis (Aspect Regional Officer) and Roger Kline (Aspect consultant) were all present to ensure the committee received a full report of relevant activity as well as an update on wider Aspect strategies and plans.

Full notes will be circulated shortly to all Aspect EYP members. (If you are a member and don’t receive yours in the next week do get in touch and let us know as it may be we don’t know you are an EYP, or have outdated details for you.)

In brief: discussions covered the national position including the general election, current issues such as the GLF, SFF, and issues such as the lack of access some EYPs have to DCSF guidance and documentation. It was agreed that we would write to each of the main parties regarding their policies on the key questions for EYPs.

The committee also spent some time  improving its own structure. It was agreed that all Aspect’s EYP members would be sent details of the committee and invited to express any interest in being involved. As we are now growing rapidly the importance of the committee remaining representative and accessible to all members was recognised to be particularly important.

  • Already a member? – Watch out for more details of the various strands of work over the next few weeks.
  • Not yet a member? – Become part of the “the gang” and add your voice to those campaigning for EYPs, EYPs students and for quality across early years by joining Aspect today.

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Job security fears in early years

February 10th, 2010

Young People Now yesterday reported on a survey they have carried out over job security.

Based on interviews with practititioners in youth justice and youth work as well as early years, the survey demonstrates that 48% are considering a change of career while 74% said there are worries over people losing their job.

The findings reflect the worries Aspect’s survey in 2008-9 picked up over job security and career paths, which remain very obscure and challenging within early years. Indeed had the survey been more focused on early years one has to wonder if the statistics would have been even more worrying. For more details the CYP Now article is here:
http://www.cypnow.co.uk/bulletins/Daily-Bulletin/news/982462/?DCMP=EMC-DailyBulletin

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The Nursery World Show Experience

February 1st, 2010

Despite a rather sparse stall, Aspect’s Nursery World Show experience was a good one! Anne-Marie McKay, Aspect’s organiser and learning guru led the way with open sessions on “Rights and Responsibilities at Work”. Meanwhile Helen Willis ran sessions for EYPs and other professionals on how we fight for professionalism throughout early years, and fight against the appalling pay and conditions that still render early years the poor relation and undermine so much of the other good work that is happening all day every day.

The two days were rendered extra challenging and exciting by the non-arrival of much of our material. (For some reason the boxes of magazines, application forms, and general useful “stuff” seem to have decided they would rather spend the weekend driving around London in a courier’s van!) However, we had- thankfully – brought some literature with us on trains and in taxis, and indeed we gave away pretty well all that we had. Our somewhat minimalist stall became even more minimalist as we went along!

Perhaps the most positive element of all was seeing first hand how much respect and support Aspect now has among leaders in early years – both Early Years Professionals and all their colleagues in related fields.  The sessions on professionalism in early years showed again just how strong the demands among early years leaders are, calling for proper professional development and structured career paths, and for early years workers to become the respected and integral part of the children’s workforce they should be.

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December & January Roundup

January 21st, 2010

Finally, after a rather long Christmas break exacerbated by the snow and a rather heavy day job workload, the EYP blog is grinding and creaking as it gets into gear and sets off into 2010.

Welcome back! Sorry about the long silence, but let’s start with a quick roundup of what’s been going on and what’s coming up:

Daycare Trust Conference

Before Christmas Aspect spoke at the Daycare Trust annual conference. It was a very illuminating day, during which the Daycare Trust launched some excellent and very thought-provoking research analysing and highlighting the true costs entailed in ensuring access to and the provision of high quality education and care from birth to five. More details are here:

Campaigning on climate change

Aspect joined thousands of other unions, environmental organisations, campaigning bodies, families and individuals at the “Wave” march through London on 5 December. Since then of course we have had all the drama of Copenhagen! However, despite what many people feel to be a disappointing outcome from the Copenhagen talks organisations across the country – and across the globe – will continue campaigning.

Aspect too is setting up its own network for members interested in actively fighting for action on climate justice. Keep your eyes open for more details.

Joint Aspect/GTC event

All of you who are Aspect EYP members will have been invited to this event before Christmas. You’ll be glad to hear it went very well with excellent feedback from participants, and agreement from the CWDC to work with us to fund and support similar events in the future should they be useful and helpful.

Again, keep your eyes peeled for the report and outputs from that.

That brings us up to date pretty well … so just a couple of dates for your diary now!

Nursery World Show 22 & 23 January

Friday 22 and Saturday 23 January (so tomorrow and the next day) – Aspect will be at the Nursery World Show running free workshops and with a stand with goodies to eat and nice people to chat to, as well as all sorts of useful literature. Do come and find us.

More details on registering for the show at: www.nurseryworldshow.com

EYP National Committee

Next week is the EYP National Committee, on Thursday 28 January, in London. Any members who have particular issues you’d like your National Committee to discuss – please let us know as soon as possible.

So you’re up to speed on Aspect events! Please do also let us have your views on important developments in the wider early years sector in the last few weeks. We’ll pick up on some of that soon.

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DCSF “Next Steps” still fragile one year on

December 22nd, 2009

One year on from the DCSF’s “Next Steps for Early Learning and Childcare”, there has been considerable progress, with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in particular now forming a key part of the landscape.

However there is also much that is fragile. The postponed implementation of the Early Years Single Funding Formula demonstrates how much misunderstanding remains about how this compex sector really operates. The recent turnaround regarding childcare vouchers is to be welcomed – but the slower progress towards free places for two-year-olds is not.

Recruitment onto the latest Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) pathways has been very promising. Yet significant evidence has emerged in the last year of problems with retention, especially in the PVI sector. The case for introducing proper pay arrangments, and clear career paths remains strong, as demonstrated by the several hundred signatories who have signed the petition on the Prime Ministers’ website (http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/eyppayscales/).

Fundamentally, the problem remains that early years is chronically underfunded, and remains a cinderella sector. The Daycare Trust research published recently reminds us all of the benefits of graduate leadership, as well as demonstrating the shortfall in funding across the sector. As a society, we are letting down our youngest children.

The evidence is clear: high quality early years education and care not only changes the lives of individual children and families, it also offers a clear return on investment higher than almost any other public expenditure.

At a time of ongoing economic crisis, this is one sector where the government – whatever colour it may be by mid-2010 – must invest far more substantially.

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Aspect Charter leading the way

November 26th, 2009

All too often new EYPs, having celebrated achieving their status, then enter a period when they feel all too alone.

Aspect’s EYP Charter, published earlier this year, demands that EYPs who have just gained the status should be provided with proper support and ongoing backing through the development of a New EYP status. Rather like a new teacher with Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) status, Aspect believes that new EYPs should have access to ongoing support, mentoring, non-contact time and continuous development. Indeed, as with NQTs, new EYPs need to be recognised as professionals working at a professional level – but also in many cases new entrants in new roles, still very much learning and developing.

The widely trailed new recommendation from the Social Work Taskforce that social workers should have a probationary year thus makes interesting reading.

In particular, perhaps, the words of the chair of the General Social Care Council (GSCC), Rosie Varley, are worth noting:

There’s a clear consensus of views about the need to strengthen social work education and introduce a national curriculum,” she added, “and to move away from the view that the degree will equip people with the skills necessary for your career, towards a concept of continuous professional development with specialist qualifications linked to specialist practice and linked to the register.”

As with social workers, EYPs are a profession without the status and structures needed. Indeed, in many ways EYPs have even further to travel.

Of course, Aspect members are already leading the way. The paper Aspect published last year on the principles and strategy that need to underpin the development of full CPD provision for EYPs is available here.

For more details of the model for social workers this article from Community Care is a good place to start.

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Have you signed the EYP Payscales petition yet?

November 20th, 2009

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ensure Early Years Professionals (EYPs) are recognised and rewarded commensurate with their professional status and leadership role in early years, through the agreement and implementation of nationally agreed structures for pay and conditions

Do you agree with this? If you do, sign today and pass on the word.

It’s really easy:

  1. Click and follow this link http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/eyppayscales/
  2. Follow the instructions on the page
  3. Go to your email inbox
  4. Click on the confirmation link to ensure your signature is added
  5. Send the link on to everyone you can think of to get them to sign as well

Here’s a bit more background:

Early Years Professionals are being recruited in order to lead change, drive excellence throughout the early years sector, and spearhead the government’s drive to tackle the poor outcomes that still dominate in areas of entrenched disadvantage.

However, despite this crucial role in leading change it has been shown (Aspect survey, published 2009) that the average pay for an EYP is only £8-£9.

Early Years Professional Status is considered equivalent to Qualified Teacher Status. When recruited EYPs were told the new roles would lead to positions that had parity with the roles of teachers in schools. It is essential that to continue to recruit and retain this essential workforce, and to meet the ambitious targets the CWDC are working towards to have EYPs in every setting by 2015, similar national pay arrangements to teachers (and other professional groups such as doctors, social workers and police officers) should be put in place immediately.

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No bullying here, thank you

November 19th, 2009

This week is anti bullying week. What have you been doing in your setting?

For most of us the focus will be on bullying among, or between, children and young people. For more on anti-bullying week and for useful resources visit the “anti-bullying alliance” website.

This week is also a good opportunity, however, to carry out a brief health check within our workplaces too.

  • How sure are we that each of us is neither bully nor bullied?
  • How certain are we that if anyone does feel bullied they would know how to gain support?
  • Do we have the right policies in place to deal with any issues that do arise?
  • Do all colleagues belong to a union to ensure there are professionals on call to help provide advice and support?

Bullying is very unhealthy, and can be not only corrosive but destructive. Just as we believe in healthy schools and healthy settings we also need to stand up for healthy workplaces.

There is more advice here on the way that each of us can help to make sure we are indeed all benefiting from healthy workplaces.

If you are a member and require further advice, contact your local representative or your Regional Officer (you will need to log in if you aren’t logged in already). If you are not a member why not join us?

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