By Ryan Bradshaw, Eagley School House Nurseries, Bolton
Since beginning my career in early years education eight years ago, I have experienced many negative attitudes from those that are outside of the profession. “You don’t need any qualifications to do what you do”; “You’re a threat” – the list goes on.
It’s these unfounded opinions that can discourage men to choose a career in the sector. What is often overlooked is the value of having a male in the early years setting. Some children grow up not having a positive male role model in their lives. Having a male practitioner in an early years setting can help to fill that gap. Men bring something unique to the workforce which helps children to thrive. Men generally enjoy risk-taking and they tend to intervene less or later. This approach promotes more opportunities for children to explore for themselves, critically think and create solutions. Having a male influence in the educational setting holds so much impact on children.
It’s not only the children who benefit. For me, being part of the child’s developing years and watching their progression brings an unmeasurable job satisfaction. Having worked in various settings from Blackpool to Bolton, I have had the privilege to work with so many children. I still have parents messaging me to keep me updated with their child’s learning journey.
Here are some of the comments I have received from parents:-
“You are such an important person in his life and will not be forgotten”.
“You have been the best influence, a rock throughout their nursery journey for that we are forever grateful.”
While the previous section celebrates the benefits of male educators in the early educational setting, it is important to acknowledge the challenges that settings face in encouraging men into the profession. It is paramount that the outdated views within society around men working with young children and in early years education are addressed – many people still have the attitude that childcare and early education is a “woman’s job”. There is also the general issue currently affecting recruitment across the sector - Warin.at.el, (2020) suggests that the dissatisfaction of many early years professionals is the low pay - this is an added barrier to attracting more men into the sector.
Despite these challenges, there are an army of supporters who actively encourage me and others to grow both professionally and personally.
Claudio Sisera - Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Male Childcare & Teaching Jobs
Over the last 12 months I have been collaborating with Claudio and Male Childcare and Teaching Jobs, who have created a community where male educators from early years to secondary can come together share experiences and ideas. Claudio is actively supporting male practitioners and providing nursery settings with CPD opportunities created to challenge gender bias and stereotypes. I have been fortunate enough to have taken part in his mentoring scheme. Claudio’s vision for gender inclusivity within the early years sector is inspiring and empowering to all male practitioners.
Here are a few words from Claudio Sisera
“I've always believed in the power of diversity in education, and I've seen just how impactful male educators can be in early childhood settings. Over the past year, I've had the privilege of working with many passionate male practitioners who bring unique perspectives and skills that truly enrich the learning environment. This experience has fuelled my mission to make nurseries more gender-inclusive, especially for men, through a membership programme we offer. We're also dedicated to encouraging more boys and men to consider careers in early years education by offering mentoring programmes for students and collaborating with men's charities. Seeing the dedication of men like Ryan reaffirms my belief that a diverse early years workforce benefits not just the children, but the entire educational community."
Julie Robinson- The director of Eagley School House Nurseries is an advocate for early childhood education and promoting gender diversity within the sector. Julie discovered me on LinkedIn where her unique approach to mindfulness “Mini Minds Matter UK” caught my attention. I actively brought mini minds to life, and I was later nominated and won an award at the Bee Lancashire Mindful awards. This instantly gave me a sense of belonging and value, finally realising the impact that I had on the young children I worked with.
In conclusion, while the journey of being a male in early childhood education comes with its unique set of challenges, the positive impact on the practitioner and the team they work in, and the children and their families, is immeasurable. The shared passion among dedicated professionals in the sector makes every hurdle worthwhile.
If you are a man considering a career in early years education, know that your contribution is invaluable, and your presence can profoundly influence the lives of young children.
To find out more about career opportunities in the early years sector, take a look at this link: https://earlyyearscareers.campaign.gov.uk
Further Reading-
Warin, J., Wilkinson, J., Davies, J., Greaves, H., Hibbin, R. (2020) G