I have devoted 14 years of my life to the Early Years sector, and still, nothing has changed. Despite our relentless dedication and hard work, we remain undervalued, underpaid, and overworked. It's disheartening to see talented, passionate colleagues leave the industry, simply because we can't afford to stay.

As Early Years Workers, we play a crucial role in shaping the futures of young children, yet we are on the brink of financial ruin. This is not just about us; this impacts families and society as a whole. When we are exhausted and financially stressed, how can we expect to provide the quality care that every child deserves?

The current situation leaves us with no incentive to remain in this profession. Inadequate salaries, limited holiday allowances, and long hours are leading to burnout and a shortage of skilled workers. Everyone feels the stress, and it reflects in our work environment and, ultimately, in the level of care provided to the children.

Research has shown that consistent, quality early childhood education has numerous long-term benefits, including better educational outcomes and improved societal wellbeing. Yet, despite this evidence, the industry is struggling to attract and retain dedicated workers.

We are calling on policymakers and relevant authorities to recognize the invaluable service Early Years Workers provide. This means not only a fair increase in wages but also better working conditions, more comprehensive benefits, and support systems that acknowledge the importance of our role.

We urge you to support this petition to ensure a sustainable future for the Early Years sector—one where workers are valued, respected, and adequately compensated for their vital contributions. Sign this petition today to make a real difference in the lives of children and the professionals who care for them.

There has never been a strike where all Early Years Workers have gotten together to stand up for what's important to us. Imagine if we all went on strike? How would the nurseries operate? How would parents take the children to nursery and then go to work? Yet again, we are expected to show up every single day but we don't get valued for all the hard work and care we put in every single day.

We need more pay, we need more holiday allowances and we need to ultimately have a work-life balance which in childcare is very hard to have! All nursery workers should have a 4-day working week where we all get the same salary as we would for a 5-day week! Maybe then our mental health and wellbeing would positively impact our work and there wouldn't be such a high turnover with staff.