In last year's survey, 7 per cent said they wanted to move out of the sector, while 41 per cent of their colleagues said they were content with their current roles. There has been a slight shift in this year's responses, with a drop to 6 per cent wishing to quit and a rise to 42 per cent saying they were happy with their lot.
While respondents speak of their delight in working with children and helping them grow and develop, they also complain bitterly about paperwork, which may be the profession's biggest bugbear.
The manager of a pre-school in the south-east voices the complaints of many when she says, 'Seeing children develop is satisfying, and helping them to enjoy their childhood is important to me. Seeing them learn through play and have fun is the main advantage of my job. There is far too much paperwork. Rules and regulations are constantly changing and staff have to go off on courses taking them away from the continuity of childcare.'
One senior nursery nurse sums up her job, 'It is very rewarding and fulfilling when you see children develop and gain new skills, confidence and independence. There's too much paperwork and not enough time to "play".'
And a childminder aged 41-50 in London says, 'Long working hours, too much paperwork. A lot of individual responsibility. Lack of children sometimes means lack of income. I am finishing childminding to work in a children's centre.'
Like last year, the more mature practitioners are most content with their lot, with 43 per cent of those aged 41-50 saying they are not looking to change things (42 per cent last year), rising to 69 per cent of the over-50s (71 per cent last year.) One notable change is the commitment in the 41-50-year-old age group to increasing their qualifications so they can get a better jobs: 24 per cent this year, compared with 19 per cent last year.