A NEW report reveals that 60 per cent of children in independent nurseries do not have a fully qualified nursery teacher.

Save the Children’s new study shows that not only is there currently a shortage of trained nursery teachers nationally, there is also a shortage of people applying for such roles.

In Yorkshire 49 per cent of children in independent nurseries don’t have access to a fully qualified teacher. Bradford is the fourth worst for access.

In neighbouring Calderdale just 28 per cent of nursery children in such setting don’t have access to a trained teacher.

The charity says while all nurseries have staff who are trained to care for children, the lack of trained teaching staff can lead to children being less developed when they leave school.

Nationally the number of people applying for the teaching roles has dropped to 860 last year from more than 2,300 the year before.

Save The Children blame this on a lack of available positions, poor salaries, a lack of promotion opportunities and an inability of nurseries to afford fully qualified staff.

The research found that children in independent nurseries without an early years teacher are almost ten per cent less likely to meet expected levels of development when they start school compared to children who do have a teacher.

This could lead to them struggling with skills like speaking full sentences, using tenses, and following simple instructions. Children who start behind are more likely to stay behind throughout their school years and beyond.

The charity is calling on the government to reverse the trend by investing in a qualified early years teacher in every independent nursery across the country, starting in the 20 per cent most deprived areas.

Dr Elizabeth Kilbey, Clinical Psychologist, said: “Having an early years teacher in a nursery can make all the difference to a child’s future. During the early years a child’s brain is developing at its quickest rate - and that language and communication skills are the building blocks for everything else they will learn, including subjects like maths and sciences.

“It also gives children the tools they need to build their self-esteem and confidence, and develop positive relationships with everyone around them. Sadly, so many nurseries are struggling to afford to hire qualified teachers, and until they can, children will continue to slip through the net.”

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