The Voice of Early Childhood10 Feb 2025

Do something big…changing the narrative around working with small children

This episode is sponsored by Funding Loop:

Funding Loop automates the process for nurseries of collecting funding forms from parents and typing that information into council portals. Funding Loop is used by over 2000 nurseries including over 80% of the top 25 nursery chains in the UK including Busy Bees.

To find out more visit: https://www.fundingloop.co.uk/home

Rachael Webster problematises the English Government's campaign for early childhood professionals, namely the advert: Do something big, work with small children…Rachael highlights the complexity, impact and importance of the early childhood profession, discussing ways in which we can shift perspectives and recognise the vital role of educators.

Read Rachael's article here:

https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/do-something-big-changing-the-narrative-around-working-with-small-children/

Episode break down:

00:00 – Government advert: Setting the scene
04:00 – The intent is right, but the delivery is questionable…
07:00 – How society sees the early childhood sector
10:00 – Parents' view of the early childhood sector
13:00 – Education vs early childhood provision
16:00 – Highly feminised job roles
20:00 – Consumer based economy
21:20 – What can we do to change these narratives?
23:00 – Advocacy and lobbying government
25:00 – A desperation for staff
27:00 – What would be the alternative to this advert?
33:40 – The challenges of advertising to women
37:00 – The need for aspirational advertising campaigns
39:00 – The view of educators as glorified babysitters

For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

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