Are parents qualified to look after a toddler?
As a former Early Years professional and a parent, I have to say that Save The Children’s rather sweeping declaration that' 'every nursery in Britain needs a qualified teacher' will feel like a kick in the teeth to many childcare professionals and parents. According to them, no amount of early years training or parenting experience can match a teacher, fresh out of university, when it comes to educating our 2-year-olds.
While I agree with Save The Children (and the 13 Doctors, Physicians and Education Specialists who have put their names to the report) about the importance of early learning, I do not think it necessary to have toddlers taught by teachers.
Children learn the most in the first five years of life. Their brains are like tiny neuron filled sponges with connections and pathways just waiting to be made. The only way this can happen is by exposing them to as much of their environment as possible, particularly through sensory and physical play. If these connections aren’t created and nurtured the neural pathways die.
Neuroscientist, David Eagleman was recently quoted as saying “What a child is exposed to, that’s what prunes the garden.” Essentially, children are what they learn about.
Now, I’m no neuroscientist but most parents are perfectly capable of reading a book to their child and love nothing more than exploring the big wide world with them. Equally, many nurseries have staff qualified to degree level who are dedicated to their profession. These people spend their free time (not unlike teachers) planning fresh challenges and new learning experiences for the children in their care. But, as with all things, some professionals, some parents, and even some teachers are more dedicated than others.
I have visited school nurseries - which have recently opened their doors to toddlers thanks to government funding - completely unprepared for the physical and emotional needs of a two-year-old and practically expecting toddlers to sit quietly at a desk and write. I fail to see the argument that a teacher would do a better job than a loving mother or a trained nursery practitioner at helping a toddler to thrive.
Finland are the rock stars of the academic world, with Finnish children ranked as some of the highest academic achievers in the world. In contrast to the UK's focus on structured classroom environments, Children from Finland don’t pick up a book until the age of 7, when they start school. Up until this point, they are encouraged to roam freely at nursery and explore the world around them. When they do start school there are no uniforms and most children don’t even wear shoes in the classroom. The emphasis in Finland is on a 'home from home' learning environment and it works
So rather than making parents and trained nursery staff feel inadequate. Why not look to raise the quality of our toddler’s learning experiences? After all, it’s not about who’s playing with our little ones, it’s how.
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