New study finds sharing policy successes within the UK offers solutions for early years workforce

The early years workforce across the four nations of the UK is facing low pay, poor career progression and a growing recruitment crisis, according to a new report – but researchers from across the UK, including Stranmillis University College in Belfast, say lessons from each nation could help turn the tide. 

The interim study, led by Professor Dame Cathy Nutbrown on behalf of Early Education and funded by the Nuffield Foundation, found a sector “united in its commitment” to quality care but “fractured” by siloed systems and underfunded policies. 

Challenges identified include: 

• concerns about qualification requirements for educators and the quality of learning and development opportunities
• the need for more graduates and teachers to provide pedagogical leadership
• better opportunities for career progression
• low pay and status within the workforce, linked to issues of funding and sustainability within the sector
• sectoral fragmentation, especially between the state sector (schools) and other early years settings
• a lack of diversity, both in relation to the low percentage of men in the profession and lack of data on the representation of different ethnic groups.
• a lack of workforce representation and voice
• widespread perceptions of a recruitment and retention crisis.

The unique nature of each UK nation was noted, including the particular challenges of increasing the pool of Welsh-speaking educators in Wales and the impact of more than a decade without a devolved government in Northern Ireland to enact early years policy.  Scotland and England have both in different ways faced challenges due to governments extending their funded early years entitlements, with Scotland taking a more aspirational approach to workforce qualifications and development, perhaps soon to be matched in England where the recent Best Start in Life strategy indicates a new level of ambition for the early years sector. 

Early Education Chief Executive, Beatrice Merrick, said: 

“At this stage of the research, data is clearly showing that good policy alone is not enough and also needs careful implementation and long-term commitment and funding to be successful.  Success also requires breaking down silos within government and between government and the early years sector.  We hope this report will help do just that.” 

Dr Glenda Walsh, Head of Early Years Education and Doctoral Studies at Stranmillis University College has been leading the research in Northern Ireland.

She commented: “This research is highly timely from a Northern Ireland perspective, as we await the development of a new Early Learning and Childcare Strategy. The findings offer valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities shared across the UK and underscore the importance of cross-national learning to inform coherent, sustainable, and ambitious policy for our early years workforce.” 

The research team are continuing to gather and analyse data, and will publish a final report in late 2025, considering how the four nations of the UK might take examples of policies that are working successfully in one, consider why this is the case and what adjustments might be made to enable such a policy to be effective elsewhere in the UK.  

The interim report can be downloaded from www.early-education.org.uk/early-years-workforce-policy-in-the-four-uk-nations-a-comparative-analysis/ 

For further information please contact Beatrice Merrick, Chief Executive, Early Education (07712 398672) or beatrice@early-education.org.uk).

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The Nuffield Foundation is an independent charitable trust with a mission to advance social well-being. It funds research that informs social policy, primarily in Education, Welfare, and Justice. The Nuffield Foundation is the founder and co-funder of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, the Ada Lovelace Institute and the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory. The Foundation has funded this project, but the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily the Foundation.

   Bluesky: @nuffieldfoundation.orgX: @NuffieldFoundLinkedIn: Nuffield Foundation Website: nuffieldfoundation.org

2. Early Education (The British Association for Early Childhood Education) is the leading independent national charity for early years practitioners and parents, campaigning for the right of all children to education of the highest quality. Founded in 1923, it has members in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and provides a national voice on matters that relate to effective early childhood education and care of young children from birth to eight. The organisation supports the professional development of practitioners through publications, training, conferences, seminars and access to a national and regional branch network.  For more information on the work of Early Education visit www.early-education.org.uk

   Early Education is registered as a charity in England and Wales (Registered Number 313082) and Scotland (Registered Number SC039472).