Workforce Troubles Driving Closures According to Ofsted

Workforce Troubles Driving Closures According to Ofsted

It is a long time since Ofsted’s annual report identified anything other than a drop in the number of childcare providers. For many years this has been put down to consolidation, smaller settings giving way to larger, as the face of childcare changed in the wake of additional funded hours. However, the inspectorate now recognises that additional challenges beyond simple market shifts are having an adverse impact on the sector. In its 2022 report, Ofsted identifies recruitment and retention as a critical factor.

Post-pandemic, the employment landscape has changed. Flexible working is now the standard in many sectors and almost every industry has faced recruitment struggles. This has pushed wages up in some areas, including retail, with the result that high quality, experienced childcare staff can frequently find better paid work outside the sector. While better economic times they might have been prepared to sacrifice a little salary for a job they live, today, when making ends meet is the top priority, many find it harder to justify. As a result, say Ofsted, many providers are forced to rely on expensive agency staff or inexperienced apprentices to fill their rosters.

As ever, the ultimate resolution of the challenge likely comes down to funding, but until then, most providers are doing all they can to attract new people and retain existing staff. At the Childcare and Education Expo in September, a panel discussed several options, ranging from establishing banks of staff looking for flexible work, to improving benefits and rewards. Thankfully there is no shortage of people who would like to work in childcare, but changes are needed to make it possible for them.