Child care directors and owners continually tell us that finding and retaining high quality staff is one of the biggest challenges faced by managers in the child care industry.

With the new qualification requirements mandated by the NQF and no significant pay increases for child care workers on the horizon it would seem that qualified early childhood teachers will continue to move into the school system unless something changes.

While child care centre directors can't affect change on a national scale (we'll leave that to the politicians) they can work to inspire the tireless and dedicated team of people who work for them.

Building a loyal team of satisfied and happy workers is the best way to avoid staffing issues and the pointers below will hopefully give you some inspiration on how to achieve just that:

Professional Development
Encouraging staff to gain further education through professional development opportunities will increase job satisfaction. Consider hiring or contracting a specialist to conduct training sessions for employees on topics such as emerging literacy, theories of child development and parent relationships. Support staff wanting to further their qualifications by enabling them to work flexibly and/or take time off for study related purposes.

Provide Supplies
Nothing is more discouraging for a child care worker than inadequate resources. Try and ensure your service has a supply of up-to-date and inspiring resources which make it pleasant for them to do their job and educational for the children.

Encourage Unity
Poor relationships with parents can cause stress for child-care workers. Ensure your parent handbook clearly outlines all centre policies so teachers don’t have to defend the rules or have awkward conversations with parents about operational policies. Facilitate frequent communication with parents, through daily verbal contact, e-mails, conferences and newsletters.

Plan Events
Look for opportunities to celebrate the great service your child-care workers are providing. Annual events such as a fun run, silent auction, BBQ, preschool graduation or art festival foster a feeling of excitement and camaraderie. These events may also serve as fund-raising opportunities for the service.

Verbal Feedback
Give your staff direct, specific praise when it is deserved as well as encouraging, constructive feedback when necessary. Child care professionals often come from diverse backgrounds and may have language barriers. Be mindful of these different perspectives when communicating with your team.

Get in the Trenches
Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty. Offer to help in the room when a worker calls in sick, a child is ill, children are especially unruly or staff just need an extra hand. Nothing will make your employees more loyal than knowing you are willing to work with them.

Work Time
Arrange your weekly rosters, if possible, so your staff have time for planning and prep. When directors/owners encourage workers to develop meaningful lesson plans and then offer support in achieving those goals, workers are more likely to feel inspired and motivated.

Reference:
Creative Ways to Motivate Employees in Child Care Centers
by Julie Christensen
ehow.com