Professional work with babies is one of the most intense, intellectually and emotionally demanding roles an adult could have. But could 2012 become a year hallmarked by real step-changes in how this work is recognised and implemented?
Research, textbooks and child development experts regularly remind us of the importance of the early years, and the first 12 months in particular. So too, more recently, offical reports. Just look at the four reviews commissioned by the Coalition Government last year, Frank Field’s on child poverty, Graham Allen’s on family support, the Tickell review of the EYFS and Eileen Munroe’s on safeguarding (see References). Yet the status, training, support and pay of practitioners helping babies start their life journeys remains poor. Babyroom staff regularly feel undervalued and ‘bottom of the pile’ and too often, ‘promotion’ for them means a move to working with an older age group. But what progress has been made and what opportunties will present themselves in 2012 to advance babyroom practice?
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