Parents in England are calling for more males to work in early years settings – and single mothers are leading the charge to ensure their children have contact with men in caring roles.

According to research conducted by the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC), 55 per cent of parents say they want a male childcare worker for their nursery-aged children, with two thirds (66 per cent) of lone parent mothers saying they would like a man involved in the care and development of their young children.

Early years settings can provide children with access to a male role model. Currently 17 per cent of children from lone parent female families have fewer than two hours a week contact time with a man, while 36 per cent have under six hours. Male early years workers can perform a vital role in ensuring many of these young children have quality contact time with men.

Offering someone for the boys to look up to was seen as important for 37 per cent of parents, who say that it sets boys a good example, while a quarter say they believe boys will behave better with a man.

But it’s not just boys who stand to benefit. Fifty-seven per cent of parents recognised the fact that men and women have different skills to offer young children, while 52 per cent simply said that a nursery setting should better reflect the real gender mix of the world.

Yet despite the high demand for male workers, there are very few men currently working in this field. More than half of parents (59 per cent) say their childcare provision doesn’t currently have a male worker.

To try and tackle this dramatic gender imbalance, CWDC is calling on more men to consider working in early years.

Thom Crabbe, National Development Manager for Early Years at the Children’s Workforce Development Council, said: “Parents are right to want to see more men working in early years. It is important that during the crucial first five years of a child’s life they have quality contact with both male and female role models.

“And working with under 5s is definitely a job for the boys. It’s one that requires someone who is patient, creative and bright and one which gives back major rewards. Male workers will get to work in a challenging, stimulating environment with like-minded professionals dedicated to the development of children with positive benefits to babies, toddlers and young children to families and communities.”

There are diverse roles and responsibilities within the sector from childminding and playworkers, to Early Years Professional Status for graduates responsible for leading the learning, care and development of the 0-5s across the Early Years Foundation Stage as well as supporting and mentoring other practitioners.

A range of training is available to suit all existing qualifications, through full time, part time or work based training, with different levels to fit every stage of a career.

To find out more about working in early years, log on to www.childcarecareers.gov.uk or call 0800 996 600.