Parents want their children to be looked after in nurseries and pre-schools which have an Early Years Professional (EYP), a new survey has found.

Read: Parents demand Early Years Professionals.

i believe it is all very well for parents to make this judgement but are they willing to pay the extra costs when their fees increase, we have parents callng up asking if they bring their own lunch, can they pay less. for all the hard work and effort that not only goes into training for this qualification whilst still working a long day, full time, comes the respect we need from the Government and the funding to go towards improving their wages, which is not being addressed.

I fully agree with this decision. I have come out of education early in order to pick my grandson up from a private childcare provider. The staff do not have the full training that staff have in state schools. Parents are not aware of the framework their children should be following. People employed in the private providers should have a close link to schools and early years teachersI

This is very much down to the individual nurseries.

I work in a nursery and get a lot of training to keep us upto date with any changes or developments, some nurseries don't send their staff on training.

You should speak to the manager of the nursery about the concerns you have.

If the staff obtained the relevant training there shouldn't be a problem as long as it was caskaded to all the other staff that were unable to attend the training as some training programmes only allow a maximum of 2 staff from a nursery to go on the course altogether, once 2 have been nomore from that nursery would be allowed to attend.

As EYPs come into being does that mean there is little or no room for NVQ III's taking Senior Centre Workers/deputy/manager roles in Children Centres? As a NVQ III in Early Years care and development, what would be my next step towards an EYP and how long would it take to reach that status?

I feel that a nursery or pre-school setting should be recognised for its professionalism and status according to an ofsted report. As a Playgroup Team Leader with a NVQ III I ensure that my service provideds the highest of care inaccordance to needs of the parent/carers and child in my care. Every effort is made to keep abreast with changing policies, expectations and my staff receive the relevant updating of qualifications or training to maintain the standards whereby parent/carers feel their child is safe, secure, happy and developing in all areas. The standard of care is reflective of the leadership in place at a given time added with passion for what one is doing.

It is up to every childcare provider to keep parent/carers informed of the changes which affect their child's care, to keep them informed of their child's progress/development.
In my setting, as the Team leader, I ensure that I work with and alongside the parent/carers of a child to provide consistence of care and standards. Parent/carers are kept informed daily/weekly of their child's need. Maintaining an 'availability' 'flexible' 'approachable' manner at the commencement and culmination of a session enables the exchange of ideas, concerns etc.

It is not the 'status' or qualification of an individual that produces the best care. Its a matter of keeping abreast with the standards, expectations of ofsted, childcare matters and having a passion for, valueing and working in conjunction with one another that produces the positive high standard of provision. As has been said in religious circles 'one can become so heavenly minded  and be of no earthly use.'

Striking the balance. Lets never loose sight of where we have come from. We need the people who know and we will always need the people who do. Without the ones that do, the people who know will cease to function.

Teamwork - always remember from whence one has come.

Shame parents have to put children into private nurseries and then complainabout the care. It is also disruptive to move children around whatever age. Good to see government are improving standards byraising qualifications.

 to reach EYP status you first need to attend university for 3 years to get a degree. some say this can be a year early depending on the marks you get for the fisrt 2 years. There are no other short routes to take.

All this study time and cost will then put up nursery fees then they will close. 

I wholly agree with you Sandra. Yesterday I was in Borders when a young mum came along with her two and half year old. We got into a  conversation. She was expressing her shock at having to pay £27.50 for sessional childcare in the mornings only. She did add that she felt her son needed it in preparation for school. If that is costly, with existing qualifications than what will happen to the likes of her when the EYP's come into being, with the increase of fees.

With experience and qualifications comes the need for increase in salaries. Increase in overheads comes increase in fees. Majority of childcare, Early Years workers are women, women always seem to be on the lower end of the salary scale, yet the nature of our responsibilities and the impact it has on the children is immense.

I agree in improving standards and ensuring that the appropriate staffing is in place for positions of immense responsibility - nurturing and caring for children, however, I will always say: 'the workers are as good as the leaders that are in place'. Just because an individual has a level two/three/diploma/degree, it does not necessarily constitute they will be the best at the job. Everyone can present themselves well in an observational/assessment situation during studies/interviews however, without the encouragement, support, motivation, modelling, guidance or continual training to maintain standards, I'm afraid standards can easily slip/fall.

In my current situation I have any number of students coming to my setting for work experience, placements etc. I make it a point that they receive a thorough induction, involvement or insight into ALL apsects of working in Child Care. Its not enough that they come and just play with the kids, or be left just observing. They are paired up with a mentor who is experienced. Encouraged to participate in various ways, even sharing basic skills - making suggestions for activities (closely monitored I must add). My seven and half years in schools as a Specialist Teachers Assistant, supporting/observing/developing professionally through various training days has equipped me for the job in hand but also made me realise how often teachers, managers of units are unaware of how to train/utilise students giving them the indepth understanding or insight into what they have chosen to make into a possible career. Its imperative that the employer makes it clearly known to all new staff what their expectations, ethos and standards are.

I firmly believe, from my experience, that every Child Care worker or Early Years worker should experience Early Years as it is in the Foundation or Infant school. This grounding made me so aware of what is expected of the children in school. Also, it better equipted me to make learning through play so much more enjoyable. Staff need to reflect 'fun' through their own body/verbal expressions. Its infectious.

 What do parent/carers expect? In September's issue of  Nursery World it tells how there are FOUR types of parents, each with their expectations and mannerisms, we can't please everyone. Every child is an individual, too, each responding in varying ways, sometimes influenced unknowingly by parent/carers own fears!!! Children are very perceptive. Its very unsettling, I agree, however, I'm sure every effort is made to ensure the best of care is provided based on the staffing, training and resources available.