A new survey into graduate employment in the private, voluntary and independent sector, particularly Early Years Teachers, that Save the Children has carried out in collaboration with Nursery World highlights some major problems (see News, pages 4-5).
Although EYT Status was viewed as very beneficial in terms of improving your skills in working with young children and understanding their development, the lack of reward in terms of pay, career development and status was a huge barrier.
Managers were keen to employ an EYT and support staff to take the qualification, but again cost was a significant factor in stopping this happening.
Interestingly, many managers and staff were not aware of funding available for students to do the course and for nurseries to cover staff time. However, there is no ongoing support such as the Graduate Leader Fund to raise wages.
No wonder that the numbers of people enrolling to do EYT Status have slumped.
The Workforce Strategy highlighted plans to increase graduate employment in early years settings. There has been no sign of a promised revision of routes to EYTS. The consultation on EYTs being able to teach school Reception classes has not appeared (admittedly this would take graduates away from the PVI sector), and suggestions that QTS changes might align this more closely with EYTS seem to have been taken in the opposite direction.
Is there any real political will to drive graduate employment in this country?