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By Rachel Lawler

 

The Alliance has launched a new survey investigating which paperwork is causing the most stress for early years practitioners.

 

Working in partnership with Ofsted and the Department for Education (DfE), the survey is part of a wider project aimed at reducing the pressures on early years staff.

 

Last year, the Alliance launched a report, titled Minds Matter, which revealed that 61% of early years staff felt that they didn’t have a good work-life balance and that 25% of staff had considered leaving the sector due to stress and mental health concerns.

 

Paperwork and administrative skills were revealed as the most common source of stress, with 78% of respondents reporting these as a regular problem.

 

In response to the report’s findings, the Alliance has been working collaboratively with the DfE and Ofsted to find ways to reduce this pressure.

 

Earlier this year, the Alliance hosted several focus groups to discuss some of the common issues.

 

Now, early years practitioners from across the sector are encouraged to take part in the comprehensive survey to help improve understanding of the problem.

 

Neil Leitch chief executive of the Alliance, commented: “I constantly hear from managers and practitioners about workload stress and the impact it has on their quality of life at work and at home. It’s important we find out what’s causing it, and even more important we do something to change it.�

 

“The Department for Education and Ofsted recognise there needs to be a proportionate approach to paperwork in the sector, so the Alliance welcomes this opportunity to work with them to identify the core concerns and find possible solutions.â€�

 

The survey is available and should take around 10 minutes to complete. It will close on 3 May 2019.