NURSERY SCHOOLS

Years ago, Nursing was vocational. It took a special sort of person to want to be a nurse.

Girls, who would be nurses, left school at 16 with a reasonable level of education to become Pupil Nurses and were employed within training hospitals..  

Briefly, Student nurses underwent yearly hospital examinations to obtain a higher rank. 

From day one senior staff and nurse educator’s performed face to face and indirect supervision of the student nurses, but as they progressed through the ranks this type of supervision was only required if senior student nurses were not able to assist their junior partners. From here they progressed to become SEN’s SRNs and then could specialise in many differing areas'

Not surprising then that since that beginning there have developed a plethora of nursing disciplines,some sub-divided into highly specialized categories, all designed to meet particular needs.

Today, Two thirds of nursing students (62%) across the UK were on a diploma programme and 38% were undertaking a degree. The entry point for graduate/diploma nurses): £21,176 rising to £27,625!

Now we all heard the news last week from Staffordshire Hospital were premature baby being treated at scandal-hit Stafford Hospital had a dummy taped to his mouth by a nurse to prevent him crying. 

Now you might think that this is an isolated case but with the publication of the results of a public inquiry into failings at the notorious hospital – where up to 1,200 patients may have died ‘unnecessarily’ through poor care or neglect, it seems that the lack of vocational training has revealed only the tip of a very large ice-berg.
Beggars belief, doesn’t it?

Now under plans to be announced by ministers next week people will only be able to look after children in nurseries if they have a good GCSE in English and Maths".

The government proposals will undoubtedly increase costs, as most pupils who get GCSEs in subjects like English and Maths invariably go on to do "A" levels and will be looking for more than the minimum rate of pay. 

They will also probably not like the hours of work as the nursery is open from about 6:30 am to 6:30 pm, although the staff do seem to do some form of shift work. So we have proposals that will undoubtedly increase costs whilst at the same time the government is claiming that they want to reduce the costs of care to the families.

It looks as if politicians are going to fall into the same trap with child minders at nurseries as they have with many nurses in hospitals.

Surely now, the basic requirement of any carer is that they must care, and enjoy caring for people, and this is nowhere more important than in a nursery where the young children require lots of attention. 

I welcome your comments.