Nurseries struggling to recruit due to the GSCE requirement
Many nurseries are having difficulties recruiting because of the GCSE requirement. It is also having an effect on learners who are wanting to gain a level 3 in childcare. The issue is learners don’t have the grades to start a level 3 course but they have the knowledge of working with children. Not only is the GCSE requirement affecting childcare providers, colleges, and training providers are seeing a decrease in the number of learners studying for a level 3 course. For nurseries where does, this leave them with recruiting qualified practitioners?
Learners are being put off from furthering their career as they don’t have the grades for the entry requirements. This could be an absolute shame as many of these learners have the knowledge of working with children, are great with children and parents but they don’t have the academic grades to get that level 3 certificate. Many nurseries are getting frustrated as they are seeing learners who have the potential to be an outstanding practitioner but are being denied that opportunity because of not having the GCSE grades.
Working in the early years sectors is a caring profession and does it really matter if practitioners don’t have GCSE C or above in English and Maths. Some people could argue the fact that yes they do in order to provide quality learning opportunities.
Many learners have also looked into doing their functional skills but these are not equivalent to GCSE’S so they still do not meet the entry and exit requirements for a level 3 course. There is the argument that functional skills should be reinstated as an equivalent to help with this recruitment crisis.
The question is how can nurseries offer the 30hrs entitlement if they don’t have the staff, the recruitment crisis is only going to get worse if there aren’t the qualified practitioners to employ. This will leave many parents with the dilemma of lack of childcare places.
For more information about this visit http://www.saveourearlyyears.org.uk/