“Non capisco perché lo Stato dovrebbe rendere le cose più difficili” – le spese per l’assistenza all’infanzia aumenteranno di migliaia mentre 660 fornitori hanno approvato l’aumento delle tariffe

As a teacher, I welcome the childcare fee increases – but will educators finally see a wage rise?

As a teacher in the early years sector, I understand why parents are frustrated with rising childcare fees. But I have to ask—will any of this actually improve wages for educators?

Right now, many early years teachers are earning as little as €13.65 an hour, which is borderline poverty. We have degrees, qualifications, and a massive responsibility in shaping young children’s development, yet we are paid less than workers in many unskilled jobs. Meanwhile, providers argue that fee increases are necessary to cover rent, insurance, and compliance costs, but that does nothing for the wages of the people actually delivering early education.

And here’s the kicker: teachers are parents too. We can’t afford childcare either. Some of us are lucky enough to get a small discount through our workplace, but the majority have to rely on family to mind our own children—while we go to work looking after other people’s children.

So, if fees are going up, does that mean we’ll finally see a pay rise? Or will the extra income just go toward keeping struggling businesses afloat while teachers continue to be underpaid and undervalued?

The reality is that many qualified early years teachers are leaving the sector because they simply can’t afford to stay. Low pay, high stress, and increasing expectations mean we’re burning out fast. Parents are struggling to pay fees, and yet the people actually providing the education and care aren’t benefiting from these increases at all.

This cycle isn’t sustainable. If the government is serious about fixing the early years education crisis, it needs to ensure that funding isn’t just about keeping businesses running—it needs to guarantee a living wage for teachers, so we can afford to stay in the jobs we love and support our own families.

Would love to hear from other teachers—are you hopeful this will lead to better pay, or do you think we’ll be left behind again?