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Low pay 'jeopardises quality' in early education and care

Government attempts to raise standards in the early years sector are being jeopardised by poor pay and conditions, according to a new report published this week.

Raising the bar: What next for the early childhood education and care workforce, by Daycare Trust and the TUC, is a review of recent research on childcare policy.

It says that the Government has made significant progress in improving education levels in the early years sector, but that pay and conditions are still extremely poor, with some workers earning below the National Minimum Wage, and many childminders paying themselves below the minimum wage once business costs have been deducted.

It argues that the introduction of the EYFS means that it is unacceptable that childcare practitioners still have to endure poorer wages than other professionals in the children's sector.

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