Leading early years organisation National Day Nurseries Association has welcomed the announcement today of the Welsh Government's draft ten year plan to develop a highly skilled workforce to improve early years education.
Purnima Tanuku OBE, NDNA Chief Executive said: "We're really pleased the Welsh Government is recognising the value of early years education and the specialist expertise of staff who work in the sector. While we all want to see a well-trained, qualified early years workforce and improved adult to child ratios, there are doubts as to how this will be funded. Many nurseries are struggling to meet rising costs and are losing money on free early education places. A more highly qualified workforce will demand higher salaries and further push up costs for parents unless it goes hand in hand with additional funding.
"There must be investment if the sector is to build a high quality workforce and make early years and childcare an aspirational career."
NDNA Cymru was a member of the task group on the Independent Review of Childcare and Early Education Registration, Regulation and Inspection which recognised the importance of a highly qualified early years and childcare workforce and has led to the launch of today's plan.
NDNA's 2014 annual nursery survey showed nurseries in Wales were making an average loss of £684 per child per year.
For more information please contact press and policy officer Sophie McCandlish on 01484 407066/07788 585502 email sophie.mccandlish@ndna.org.uk