New Career Paths for Nursery Workers

Nursery and childcare workers across Scotland are to benefit from new training, career progression and professional recognition, it was announced yesterday. Under new plans, the early years profession will be strengthened by introducing new qualifications for managers, developing a career structure for all nursery workers and providing ongoing training and development.

Funding for councils to better support their private and voluntary sector pre-school partners has also been boosted by 5 million pounds annually to help them invest in their workforces and enhance the quality of their services.

Education Minister Peter Peacock said: “Nursery and childcare workers are key professionals who make a difference to thousands of children’s lives every day. Their skills, professionalism and dedication must be recognised, so that our children continue to benefit from even higher quality pre-school and childcare services. I have set out a plan today to ensure that families have access to the high-quality, flexible services they need.

“I did not create this plan on my own. I asked the experts – the profession itself – to tell me what needed to happen to improve their services and careers. Their report has helped me to understand the challenges and opportunities in pre-school and childcare professions, and has directly informed my response. Now I want to continue this dialogue with the profession as we work out the detail of how we implement these changes.

“We have set out concrete steps to help improve our already high quality childcare and early years provision. The status, recognition and professional development of nursery and childcare staff across the country will improve, giving them the opportunity to develop their expertise and build long, satisfying and rewarding career which will deliver consistently higher quality services the length and breadth of Scotland.”

The announcement today deals only with workforce issues. Ministers will look at wider questions of expanding childcare and nursery services later in the year.

Investing in Children’s Futures – The Executive’s Response to the National Review of Early Years and Childcare Workforce is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/08/09121758/0.

The report by the National Review of Early Years and Childcare Workforce was published today. The report is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/07/10140823/0.

The Executive is looking for views from the profession on how these changes should be implemented. A consultation will run until December 22, 2006.