SSES are excited to have their first guest post today, and on what is such an important subject. When our CEO owned her day nurseries, she said she could see the difference males in the environment made to the children, whether it was the full time EYP they had or the handyman working.
Over to Claudio from Male Childcare and Teaching Jobs…..
Where are the Men in Early Years?
Male early years practitioners play a significant role in improving the childcare sector in a variety of ways. In a profession where women are the majority, male early years practitioners diversify the teaching workforce and make a positive impact as role models for children. There are plenty of opportunities for males to get into childcare careers. However, recent studies show that despite the great deal of opportunities for male early years practitioners, there is still a shortage in supply.
A shortage of Male Early Years Practitioners in the UK
Although the importance of male educators has been recognised, little has changed over the past few years. Statistics vary according to the source and figures vary slightly, but it is widely recognised that less than 2% of the Early Years teaching workforce are represented by males.
According to a survey conducted by the Department of Education in England, in the spring of 2019 there were about 363,400 Early Years practitioners in group-based or school-based settings or working as childminders or childminding assistants.
In total, there are about 408,134 Early Years practitioners and teachers in the United Kingdom, of which less than 8,162 are male. This means that only 1 in 50 early years practitioners are male teachers.
It is clear there is still a long way to go in changing the gender balance of those working in Early Years.
What are the Benefits of Hiring more Men in Childcare?
Having the presence of a male role-model in the classroom is beneficial in several ways:
- Gender Equality – Male early years practitioners promote a more gender-balanced learning environment for children, which is proven to promote British Values within educational settings.
- Males can positively impact the life of children growing without a father figure – it is developmentally crucial that children experience positive role-modelling from adults of any gender.
- Men and women can sometimes have different caring styles and behaviours, which can benefit children. It introduces children to different styles of caring, playing and instructing.
- Children get the opportunity to experience and observe positive relationships between men and women.
- Children are exposed to a positive male role model, something they may not always experience at home.
- It is scientifically proven that male and female brains process information differently; male early years practitioners can provide a different perspective in dealing with situations with the children.
- There might be a possibility of gender issues within a workplace; having a male staff member can challenge the stereotypes in relations to toys and activities.
How can I Employ more Men in my Nursery or School?
Developing a culture of gender equality in your nursery or school is an important step to take if you are actively looking to diversify the gender of your teaching workforce.
Male Childcare and Teaching Jobs have compiled a very useful guide on how to attract male teachers and early years practitioners to your nursery.
Their mission is to encourage more men to get into childcare careers through their partnerships with universities and colleges, as well as celebrating males who already work in childcare.
If your nursery or school is looking to employ more male teachers and early years practitioners, you can get in touch with Male Childcare and Teaching Jobs, who can help you find the right candidate for your educational setting.