ABSTRACT

Early years practitioners are central to UK government policy in alleviating poverty in early childhood. The significant level and rise in child poverty rates suggest that their role is becoming increasingly important in supporting families on low incomes. Paradoxically, cuts to children’s services under austerity policies and the low pay and status associated with working in early years sector means that many practitioners are likely to be vulnerable to poverty themselves. However, government policy has failed to recognise that practitioners who are charged with supporting families in poverty may at the same time be experiencing in-work poverty. Drawing on a narrative study with 38 early years practitioners in the south-east of England this paper addresses how practitioners’ personal and professional lives shape their understandings of poverty. Findings suggest that practitioners’ personal experiences of childhood, motherhood and personal poverty play a part in shaping their understandings of poverty and to what extent they are able to recognise and empathise with others. It is recommended that how practitioners are positioned and how they position others within discourses of poverty needs to be addressed if practitioners are to effectively support families on low incomes.

摘要

早年从业者是英国政府减轻幼儿贫困政策的核心。儿童贫困率的显着水平和上升表明，他们在支持低收入家庭方面的作用变得越来越重要。矛盾的是，紧缩政策下儿童服务的削减以及与早教部门工作相关的低工资和地位意味着许多从业者本身很可能容易陷入贫困。然而，政府政策未能认识到负责支持贫困家庭的从业人员可能同时面临工作贫困。本文利用对英格兰东南部 38 名早年从业者的叙述性研究，探讨从业者的个人和职业生活如何影响他们对贫困的理解。调查结果表明，从业者在童年、母亲和个人贫困方面的个人经历在塑造他们对贫困的理解以及他们能够在多大程度上识别和同情他人方面发挥了作用。建议如果从业者要有效地支持低收入家庭，则需要解决从业者如何定位以及他们如何在贫困话语中定位他人的问题。