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By Rachel Lawler

Ofsted’s latest annual report argues that staffing shortages in the education sector have “compounded the problem” of children’s delayed development during the pandemic. It also says that the lack of staff “slowed the pace of intervention” where children needed extra help.

Youngest children
The report, which covers the 2021/22 academic year, also notes that the “youngest children” were most impacted by the pandemic, with children taking longer to settle at settings and arriving at school with “a wider range of starting points than normal”.

The report also notes a “number of pressures” on the early years sector as childminder numbers continue to fall and group settings struggle to recruit quality staff. It says: “More nurseries lack enough qualified and experienced staff and become over-reliant on apprentices to fill gaps. That has a knock-on impact on the quality of their early education as well as their safeguarding expertise.”

The report argues: "This generation of young people has lacked stability in recent years. We owe them as much security and certainty as we can provide for what remains of their childhood. And we must offer those children, and older students too, the education, training and opportunities they need to secure their future."

Acute recruitment challenge
Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Alliance, said: “Ofsted is absolutely right to highlight the acute recruitment challenge the early years sector is facing, and the significant detrimental impact this is likely to have on children’s learning and development.   

“Now more than ever, it is vital that early educators are able to focus on supporting each individual child’s early learning and mitigating the ongoing effects of the pandemic. Instead, they are forced to spend more and more energy firefighting relentless staffing challenges, with many providers battling just to ensure that they have enough staff on a day-to-day basis to keep their doors open.  

“What’s more, as the report highlights, every time an early educator leaves the sector, they take with them a wealth of experience and knowledge, and this is something we simply cannot afford to lose – though when you consider the long hours, ever-increasing workloads, low salaries and even lower recognition, it’s not difficult to see why those who leave choose to do so.  

“Ultimately, if we are to ensure that every child gets the best possible start in life, we need a stable, experienced and committed workforce – but this will only be possible through fair pay, supported by adequate funding, and a complete change in the way we view, and value our sector. The early years has the potential to be one of the best and more fulfilling career paths, but if the government does not act urgently, we will continue to lose talented professionals – and ultimately it will be the children we care for and educate that will pay the price."