EARLY years staff need a proper career structure, Unison, the public service union, has told the Scottish Executive. The union repre-sents around 7,000 nursery nurses and argues that a review should address their increase in duties and responsibilities since the last regrading 13 years ago.
“A wide range of qualifications and occupational standards have been introduced leading to confusion among new professionals and employers,” Unison says.
Carol Ball, union spokeswoman, said other European countries recognised the value of early years staff. “Unfortunately, in this country it is often viewed as a woman’s job, or one that is taken because the individual is not intelligent enough to teach. Both these are skewed perceptions,” she said.
