The team at Class Recruit have been reviewing three new reports recently, all of which highlight ongoing Early Years sector recruitment issues in the South West.
The finding, published by the Department of Education, have outlined how childcare settings across the region and wider UK have been impacted by issues including Covid, staffing shortages and Government underfunding.
There are further concerns raised in the reports about how child ratios are being increased over time and the reduced number of experienced and qualified candidates within the Early Years sector as we move through 2022.
The research was carried out between November and December 2021 and involved the feedback from 1,950 providers including group-based providers and school-based providers.
The reports have highlighted the extreme challenges faced currently by those running, managing and working within Early Years settings in the UK.
Some of the most concerning statistics in the reports included:
72% of nurseries and pre-schools have lost staff since the start of Covid
47% of settings say staff have left the sector for better pay
60% of settings say that they have seen staff leave the sector completely
Whilst the team here at Class Recruit are not in the business of spreading doom and gloom, we do keep a close eye on the Early Years sector, and as recruitment specialists, we know that many settings are struggling.
We have remained committed to providing the very best candidates to clients, and to fully supporting our Early Years settings across the South West.
The reports can be read in full here:
Early Years workforce and business planning during the pandemic
Survey of childcare and Early Years providers and coronavirus
Providers' finances: a survey of childcare and Early Years providers 2021
We recently wrote a news piece highlighting the main issues facing the Early Years sector in the South West - please visit here to find out more.
We also urge candidates looking for nursery jobs in the region to read this post on what you should expect from a reputable Early Years recruitment agency in Bristol.
If you work in or run an Early Years setting and are concerned about staffing, feel free to get in touch with us for an informal chat. We're here to help.
Those who already have relevant industry experience and qualifications, and who are looking for permanent nursery agency work in Gloucester or Cheltenham, please visit here.
We are always available to have an informal chat with new or experienced nursery job candidates and can be reached on 0117 930 4000 or by visiting here.