Men in childcare are great roles models for children missing a father figure in their life, according to male nursery nurse Simon Austin.
Simon is a nursery nurse at the Walton-le-Dale setting of Carr Manor nursery and represents one of only 3% of males within the early years sector.
As the only male worker at his setting, Simon feels that he sometimes has more authority over the children than other female workers due to his gender.
“Some of the children are more favourable to me compared with the other female nurses. They see me as a figure of authority and listen to me, when sometimes they would react differently to female workers.
“Some can be a little hesitant towards me at first, but others think it’s cool that I’m a male nursery worker! I think I can be a good role model for some of the children who don’t have a father figure in their lives.”
Simon pursued a career in childcare after leaving school at 16. Despite being in such a minority, Simon became attracted to the industry through his passion to work as a primary school teacher and love of working with children.
“No two days are the same. Every day is different and the children are there to keep you on your toes! There’s always a wide variety of activities going on with the children and it’s great telling the parents what their child learnt that day and how they are progressing. It can be very rewarding.”
With no real development in the amount of males working in the industry, Simon feels it is a shame that more isn’t done to make the early years sector appeal to males.
“I haven’t seen any difference in the population of male childcare workers since I started. I was the only male on my childcare course and in my previous and current workplaces. Some people can be apprehensive about being in a class full of girls.
“Colleges should try to catch males young by making the role more appealing to males. The Course prospectus always seems to show pictures of girls playing with dolls rather than creating adverts that appeal to males too. Not enough is being done to encourage males to work in early years, especially nurseries.”
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Despite being a popular member of the nursery team, Simon admits that a couple of the parents have taken a little longer to accept him in the past due to his gender.
“Most of the parents accept me, but some can take time to warm to you. One or two parents can take longer to warm to me, but they are fine once they get to know me better. I am conscious that being a male worker is unusual, but if males become more common then parents will be more accepting.”
Last year Surrey council launched a campaign to boost the male childcare workforce and though met with positive response, the sector still lacks ‘father figures’ that some children would enjoy.
Leslie Robinson, Area Manager at Carr Manor Nursery said, “We are proud to have a male practitioner in the nursery and would welcome more like Simon.”
Does your setting have male nursery nurses or are you a male nursery nurse yourself? Do you think that males can be more prominent with the children in their setting? Join the discussion and leave your comments below.
I qualified with my NNEB certificate in 1978 and worked in childcare [for the under five's] for many years afterwards.
It is pleasing to note that good progress has been made in having more males in the service.
When I was training and for a few years after, I knew of no other males working in Nurseries. For me then, it was a vIery lonely time and support was literally not available. Things sure look better today and that is good news. I had to give up my work on health grounds [mid ninties] and finishing my career with the under fives was the saddest day of my life.
Colin.
[...] Learning Alliance, said: “Parental attitudes have long been held to be a barrier preventing men working in childcare. Our survey suggests this is no longer the case. The vast majority of parents and female [...]
Here at Bright Beginnings CC Leeds we are fortunate we have begun toaddress the balance of our workforce with regards to gender. Of our team of 48, six childcare practitioners are male and we also emply two male houskeepers.
We currently have four members of the team undertaking EYPS, two of whom are male. Freddie has written a song book and recorded a CD that he has made available to all parents, focussing particularly on those children with English as an additional language. Phil is interested in the outdoors, supporting children and staff to access the Centre allotment.
Dan Waldren, Senior Child Care practitioner in one of the 3-4 year rooms recently supported Penny Vine to deliver an insight into males in the workforce. Dan highlighted the importance of being a positive role model and challenging steriotypical views. He is not a keen footballer, however brings other qualities and interests, for example he is interested in drama and supported the 3-4′s in their Christmas Production staged at the Leeds University Riley Smith Hall.
Bright Beginnings General Manager Angela Foley, has acheived an exception to the norm. Parents, children and staff love the balance she has created, this is evident in the comments, testamonials and of course, observations!
Fiona Hakin, Curriculum Manager
We have a male ‘social care’ student doing a placement at our preschool. He is loved by all the children and parents. He makes sure he gets involved with every child, every day and does it in a way that the child feels comfortable with. Parents have been so impressed that they want him to say or at least would like another male student to come on placement next term. His tutor is going to take a picture of him interacting with the children to publish in their prospectus to encourage men in to this line of work.
It is nice to hear of other settings with male workers as I believe children greatly benifit from both male and female role models.
As a male nursery manager my team consists of a male deputy manager, nursery assistant and an apprentice working alongside 2 female nursery officers, 2 LSAs and another apprentice.
At one stage before we gained apprentices and LSAs, we were a male dominated team! It really helped our male apprentice as he knew he was going into a female dominated environment as a profession. It reassured him when he knew he was going to a nursery with 3 men and made him feel more comfortable.
Our parents have responded positivley as we have a large number of boys at the setting which they feel promotes positive male role models but girls need role models too!
It is important to be aware of gender differences but not make gender the focus. We make a difference as an equally balanced team not just because we have lots of men or women.
Becuase I do not hear about other peoples exepriences it is easy to feel that my nursery is the only setting with 4 men! Clearly that is not the case so it would be great to hear more stories and experiences that have several men working in nursery settings.
The Springlands Nursery team has included men for about 10 years. We had 7 at one point! Also, with a range of qualifications; level 3, level 2 and trainees. I guess because we are known to employ men, we also get applications and a proportion are successful (tends to be a high proportion too).
There is no doubt that young children need role models from both sexes. Many families are void of this in the nuclear family. We had a training event last night and this topic came up – by one of the men! Boys learn differently and men naturally deliver learning opportunities to boys which is an advantage. Recognising that boys tend to be under achievers then this can only be an advantage. However, every practitioner has to learn how to ensure every child can access learning regardless of thier gender. As a team this also applies to how members of staff like to learn too …
The retention of male staff has been as good as female employees (which is a good for the sector), however, their reasons for leaving tend to be arround – gaining more experience (one chap now doing cruise work – but intends to return) or for financial reasons.
H, we have a male caretaker and it is fantastic he interacts wonderfully with the children, was a great santa and he said enjoyed it so much it was to date one of his most favourite interactions with children.
He is a great dad and grandfather and very supportive of his famliy.
He is a good role model for the children as he is positive and happy, interacts well his language is excellent and the children see him as in his supportive role for the 15 female staff members, he is always mending things, painting, diy, spreading grit, sorting out their play areas and ensuring their play environment is safe for them. They seem to understand this and respond very well to this as do all the parents.
Has anyone thought about running male only training courses and maybe this would encourage more men to come forward and to promote men in a positive way with our under fives!
As the owner of four settings, a hands on practitioner and I believe the first male to achieve Early Years Professional Status within Liverpool, I believe that much more can and should be done to encourage men.
Early years departments in councils could take a much more active role in encouraging males in to settings as advisers and lead practitioners across both the public and private sectors.
For the sake of the children and society I really do think there is a case for positive discrimination or at least the same level of attention as is given to other minority groups.
Let’s hope that the coalition government’s statement in their agreement document to address the gender imbalance in the early years workforce, actually results in some action. Simon is correct that it is about changing culture and attitudes of men and women. Men need to be made aware of the benefits to them of working with young children. Society needs to stop being suspicious of every male early years worker’s motives and to encourage male involvement. I believe boys and girls need men and women. It is about balance. One gender is not better than the other but each has something to bring. It cannot be right that the experience of care and education for the vast majority of children in our country is feminised. And all early years workers need and deserve better pay!!
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