Settings need to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion if they are to recruit and retain men in childcare and education, believes Chrissy Meleady, chair of the pioneering Sheffield Children's Centre.
Throughout its 25-year history, the early excellence centre and Sure Start provider, which serves a financially impoverished inner-city community, has pioneered the employment of men in childcare.
Half of the 75 staff at the Centre are men, ranging from 18 to 65 in age and coming from diverse cultural backgrounds including Pakistani, Somali, Italian and Irish.
'Employing men shouldn't be seen as a distinct issue but as part of a wider equality agenda, in which everyone is treated equally regardless of race, gender, sexuality or disability,' says Ms Meleady.
This philosophy extends to child protection. 'Children need protection from everybody, not just men,' says Ms Meleady.
To protect children from abuse and staff from any allegations of abuse, the Centre employs an open-door policy (allowing parents and carers to visit at any time), has witnessing policies for the carrying out of intimate care duties and uses CCTV. Children are also made aware of their rights and consulted on their views about personal care.
Employing men forms part of the Centre's wider aim to break down prejudice and challenge socially and culturally constructed views and gender roles.
Initiatives, therefore, extend to women's and family issues.
Bringing about such change means changing attitudes, which the Centre tries to foster through initiatives such as workshops, in which parents and carers can debate issues such as gender. The Centre has also organised school workshops to try to change boys' views of men in childcare.
'The main area that needs to be addressed is attitude if we are going to recruit and retain men in childcare,' says Ms Meleady.
The Centre's philosophy of equal opportunities is evident for all to see.
'There are pictures of men working with children everywhere to give out the message that the Centre is a man-friendly environment,' she says.
To bring about greater understanding between team members, staff attend equal opportunities courses, including some gender-specific training.
To avoid men feeling isolated, the Centre operates a mentoring programme, involving other childcarers both in the Centre and other settings.
Centre managers are sensitive to the fact that trying to change the status quo can feel threatening and that female staff may, for example, be suspicious of men's motives and ambitions. To address any tensions, the Centre operates an open policy for discussion. 'We find that both men and women are very relieved when issues are set on the table,' says Ms Meleady.
The Centre also operates the National Men in Childcare Network, which provides information, support, advocacy and workshops (for men and women).
Ms Meleady acknowledges that many male childcarers have suffered discrimination but feels that 'there's been a massive change in people's perceptions'. Some of the younger male staff members came to the Centre as babies and are now returning to take up a career in childcare.