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The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has launched a new campaign to celebrate and champion people working in the early years and education sectors and drive recruitment for roles in the city-region.
The #GMEarlyEducation campaign launches as the Department for Education predicts an additional 40,000 professionals will be needed nationwide in early education roles by September 2025.
The campaign sits alongside significant investment in training and the creation of clear career pathways through the MBacc and Early Years Workforce Competency Framework. These pathways are designed to strengthen the local early education and childcare workforce, and make careers in the sector more accessible, valued, and rewarding. Support for the sector also makes it easier for parents and caregivers to work and contribute elsewhere in the Greater Manchester economy.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:
“Working with children under the age of five is one of the most important, and most rewarding, careers out there. When we get this right, children start school ready to learn and thrive.
“This is challenging work too, and we recognise the immense pressures the sector faces, both here in Greater Manchester and across the country. That’s why we’re committed to supporting early educators through the Early Years Workforce Competency Framework and the MBacc.
“I’m so proud of the dedication, resilience, and passion shown by early years professionals across Greater Manchester. Your work is truly inspiring, and you are making a difference every single day for children, families, and communities. The work you do is essential for the future of our city-region.”
The GMCA’s new campaign celebrates the existing workforce, centring the voices of early educators to highlight the personal impact they make on the lives of children and families across our city-region, whilst providing a solution to support the government in meeting its target.
Cllr Mark Hunter, GMCA Portfolio Lead for Young People and Leader of Stockport Council, said:
“Our early education campaign is a great celebration of our existing workforce and aims to encourage residents across the city-region, from school-age and above, to consider a career in the sector.
“Across Greater Manchester, early education plays a vital role in supporting our children to develop and enable our families to access childcare. But we face challenges we making sure there are enough places.
“Early education helps children build resilience, develop relationships and understand emotions. It can support communication and language development; an essential life skill that directly impacts on a young child’s ability to learn, make friends and their future life chances.
“Working in early education and childcare is a challenging and rewarding career choice, but most importantly, gives you the opportunity to help build the foundations for a child’s health, wellbeing and attainment.”