Children ‘at risk of falling behind’ due to lack of early years staff

HUNDREDS OF thousands of young children are at risk of falling behind before they start school because they do not have access to specially qualified early years workers, according to a charity.

Save The Children says there is a shortage of around 11,000 early years teachers in England. It argues that all young children should be in childcare that is led by graduate early years professionals to help ensure that they start school ready to learn.

The warning comes the week after Education Secretary Damian Hinds said it is a “persistent scandal” that youngsters are starting school unable to communicate in full sentence or read simple words. He pledged to halve the numbers of youngsters beginning their schooling without the early speaking and reading skills they need at that age.

In his speech last week, Mr Hinds also said that the Government will be investing £20m in training early years professionals.

Save The Children’s analysis of data, obtained through Freedom of Information requests, concludes that around 10,731 nurseries, playgroups and children’s centres that do not have staff with qualified teacher status, early years teacher status or early years professional status.

Steven McIntosh, the charity’s director of UK poverty, said: “Children who start behind, stay behind. But high-quality childcare, led by graduate early years teachers, can ensure children are ready for school.”

Nadhim Zahawi, Children and Families Minister, said the Government wants “every child to have the best start in life”, and that it was investing up to £6bn a year by 2020 in supporting early years education.