Email Justine Greening MP (General Supporter) Read the petition First Name Last Name Email constituency / postcode Dear Secretary of State, I am writing to you as a concerned member of the public to ask you to reverse a Government decision that will have a catastrophic effect on the childcare sector, including higher costs for parents and the very real risk of a lower quality of care provided for young children. I am deeply concerned about the negative impact of the Government’s decision that all Level 3 Early Years Educators (EYEs) must have at least a C grade in GCSE English and maths to count in the ratios, with no equitable alternative such as Functional Skills allowed. I absolutely agree that English and maths are important for our country's childcare practitioners – but the insistence on GCSEs as the only qualification allowed will mean many outstanding prospective nursery workers will be barred from employment in the sector. Functional Skills is a qualification that, while providing good standards of English and maths, also brings into the sector EYEs with the skills, passion and knowledge required to provide high-quality pre-school care for children. Your policy will bite from this September, and will mean there will be a significant shortfall in the number of Level 3 childcare practitioners, which threatens the quality of care that children will get in early years settings, and means childcare costs for parents will increase. First, higher-qualified employees demand higher salaries, and the cost will be passed on to parents; second, because fewer childcare practitioners means fewer providers will be able to offer the 30 hours entitlement. This policy is also at odds with the Government’s allowance of Functional Skills in other sectors, and it is contrary to the wider approach the Government has taken to Apprenticeships. I therefore hope that you will level the playing field for the childcare sector, and will again agree to accept Functional Skills as an equivalent qualification for EYEs to count in the ratios. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Yours sincerely, [signature] Also send to my local mp Send to Justine Greening MP Share this with your friends: Your Email Help us get the attention of Education Secretary Justine Greening by sending this pre-written email to her office in Westminster. Feel free to personalise the text of your message in the box provided.
