ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses how age is conceptualised within society and the impact of an ageing workforce and discusses the discernible difference between older and younger practitioners' adaptability and attitude to change. It explores the importance of harnessing the wealth and years of experience of older practitioners. The chapter examines the special relationships that older practitioners build with young children, families and their colleagues. Staff turnover disrupts the stability of communities of both children and adults. It disrupts the already developed relationships, which are the bedrock of emotional well-being. The process of making decisions about which provision to choose is often a balancing act between personal priorities and the realities of what is available. The impact of practitioners retiring early due to constant government change in policy would be detrimental to the roots of the early years community. Growing a future generation requires communities with strong, stable and sufficiently rooted practitioners who can withstand the winds of rapid policy change.
