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.