Opinion: Nursery workers deserve praise

Our public services matter. We rely on the people working within them, whose attitudes are often the aspect that matters most. Resources and pay obviously have an effect, but so does status.

When I began writing in this paper about the need to value our social care workers in the same way as NHS nurses, it wasn’t much discussed. The pandemic changed that. We are starting to see real progress.

I know how pleased those care workers are with the shift in perception. Their professionalism, dedication and compassion are part of their pride in their work. But people’s pride can’t be taken for granted.

Most of us are human enough to respond to recognition. It’s dispiriting to do great work and feel that no-one has noticed. Why make the effort or go the extra mile? Why stay in your job at all?

This week, I want to raise the case of a different group of undervalued workers. There are lots of them, here in Peterborough. Our children learn from and depend on them. Yet they aren’t those working in our schools, as teachers, but in our pre-schools and nurseries.

What we expect of nurseries is increasing year-on-year. Not so long ago, sending your child to nursery was just about childcare. Staff needed the experience and professional competence to look after babies, toddlers and children before they began school.

OFSTED inspections, Government regulations and new qualifications changed all that. Nurseries and pre-schools are tasked with equipping children with the basics before they start school.

As an objective, this was absolutely the right thing to do. We want our children to have the best possible start in life. Studies show how important children’s early years are to shaping their entire futures.

We are a working city. Many families work long hours or work shifts, which makes the educational support provided at a nursery crucial. The demands on their staff have increased.

Thankfully, Peterborough’s nurseries and pre-schools are delivering. I met our local Stars Day Nurseries recently to hear about their Covid-19 experience.

It was a good meeting and it was notable that for all the challenges this business has faced, their first concern was the recognition of their staff. Stars Day are doing their part, not least by paying over and above the national living wage.

The educational and child development side of their work simply isn’t recognised in the same way as that of schools. Staff at nurseries are often following a curriculum and, all in senses of the word, are teaching children.

Just because they aren’t called teachers, we shouldn’t ignore their role. Like care workers, they deserve our respect – and like social care, we need to reform the way that services are funded and supported.

It’s right that the Government provides a set number of free hours for two-year olds and again for three and four-year olds. It’s also right that parents contribute for additional pre-school hours.

Lazy Labour always think the state can pay for everything, without saying how. It’s more complicated than that, unless regular taxpayers in Peterborough want a massive bill. However, as we ask providers to do more, they will need more support.