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| Call to align nursery and primary school teacher status | Call to align nursery and primary school teacher status |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Nursery school teachers should be given the same status and pay as those in primary school, the Pre-School Learning Alliance has said. | Nursery school teachers should be given the same status and pay as those in primary school, the Pre-School Learning Alliance has said. |
| It said early-years teachers were being "locked out" of teaching in primary schools, even in reception classes. | It said early-years teachers were being "locked out" of teaching in primary schools, even in reception classes. |
| Nursery teachers were very disheartened at the government's failure to bring the two sets of teachers' status in line, said the charity. | Nursery teachers were very disheartened at the government's failure to bring the two sets of teachers' status in line, said the charity. |
| But the government said the move was "not necessary". | But the government said the move was "not necessary". |
| 'Matter of priority' | 'Matter of priority' |
| Former Childcare Minister Elizabeth Truss introduced the training of early-years teachers in January 2013 in an attempt to boost their status. | Former Childcare Minister Elizabeth Truss introduced the training of early-years teachers in January 2013 in an attempt to boost their status. |
| But the measures did not mean early-years teachers had qualified-teacher status (QTS), like those in primary and secondary schools, said Daynurseries.co.uk, an online guide to nurseries. | |
| The Pre-School Learning Alliance, which represents 14,000 early-years providers in the private and voluntary sector, says that as nurseries are independent, they do not have the same backing as state-funded schools, so cannot pay the same salaries to their staff. | The Pre-School Learning Alliance, which represents 14,000 early-years providers in the private and voluntary sector, says that as nurseries are independent, they do not have the same backing as state-funded schools, so cannot pay the same salaries to their staff. |
| Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Alliance, said: "We would urge the new childcare minister to look into this issue as a matter of priority. | Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Alliance, said: "We would urge the new childcare minister to look into this issue as a matter of priority. |
| "The government claims that early-years teacher status is equal to qualified-teacher status, but this is simply not the case." | "The government claims that early-years teacher status is equal to qualified-teacher status, but this is simply not the case." |
| "As it stands, they are teachers in name only." | "As it stands, they are teachers in name only." |
| Mr Leitch said ensuring early-years teachers were granted qualified teacher status would be an important step in "ensuring parity between early years and the rest of the education sector". | Mr Leitch said ensuring early-years teachers were granted qualified teacher status would be an important step in "ensuring parity between early years and the rest of the education sector". |
| 'Different jobs' | 'Different jobs' |
| Pre-school staff earn on average £17,000 a year, and primary school staff on average £33,000, according to the charity. | Pre-school staff earn on average £17,000 a year, and primary school staff on average £33,000, according to the charity. |
| The organisation called for a boost to funding for independent nurseries, so they could increase staff wages. | The organisation called for a boost to funding for independent nurseries, so they could increase staff wages. |
| A Department for Education (DfE) spokesman said the two types of teaching were "different jobs", so aiming to make progression from one into the other easier was not relevant. | A Department for Education (DfE) spokesman said the two types of teaching were "different jobs", so aiming to make progression from one into the other easier was not relevant. |
| He said the government was not responsible for the wages offered by independent schools and refused to comment on whether the pay and status could put teachers off. | He said the government was not responsible for the wages offered by independent schools and refused to comment on whether the pay and status could put teachers off. |
| Teachers 'disillusioned' | Teachers 'disillusioned' |
| But Sue Learner of Daynurseries.co.uk said a lack of career progression from pre-school into primary school was putting graduates off getting into nursery teaching. | |
| She said: "[Aligning the statuses] is something that a lot of people want, but the government doesn't want to put the money into early years." | She said: "[Aligning the statuses] is something that a lot of people want, but the government doesn't want to put the money into early years." |
| Ms Learner added that teachers were "disillusioned", and as a result children were missing out on the best start to life. | Ms Learner added that teachers were "disillusioned", and as a result children were missing out on the best start to life. |
| The online guide surveyed 1,009 people on its website and found 78% of those asked also backed the move. | The online guide surveyed 1,009 people on its website and found 78% of those asked also backed the move. |
| In a statement, the DfE said: "Although there is a need to transform the status of the profession, we don't consider QTS necessary to do this. | In a statement, the DfE said: "Although there is a need to transform the status of the profession, we don't consider QTS necessary to do this. |
| "Early-years teachers will have early-years teacher status reflecting the specialist role that they have in working with babies and children from birth to five years." | "Early-years teachers will have early-years teacher status reflecting the specialist role that they have in working with babies and children from birth to five years." |