Workforce challenges must be addressed to ensure the early years sector can recruit and retain staff to meet the demands of the full rollout of the childcare expansion, the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) has said. While growth in staff numbers is currently “on track” to meet the Government’s estimated targets for the childcare expansion, the NFER report has warned that this “may not necessarily continue”. But the NFER said early years providers have reported challenges with achieving growth so far and further growth “may be even more challenging”. One of the challenges early years providers face in recruiting and retaining staff is pay is low compared with that in the general workforce, the report said. Jack Worth, NFER education workforce lead, said: “The early years landscape is undergoing significant changes and increasing pressures.

Source: The Times September 01, 2025 05:48 UTC