Work SMARTey · Practitioners
Pain at work is common in early years. It is worth taking seriously, and worth raising.
For everyone who works with children: nursery practitioners, room leaders, childminders and assistants. Nearly everyone we surveyed reported experiencing pain whilst working, and many keep quiet about it. You are not alone, and you are not making a fuss.
In brief
What practitioners need to know.
Work SMARTey is a research programme on pain among early years staff. Our national study found that 98% of the early years staff we surveyed reported experiencing pain whilst working, most often in the lower back. For many it came back again and again, and many told us they had not mentioned it to anyone at work.
On this page:
What practitioners told us
Pain is part of everyday working life for many.
Early years work happens at child height. Lifting children, kneeling, squatting, sitting on small chairs and stooping to low tables are part of an ordinary day, often in rooms and with furniture made for children rather than adults.
Nearly everyone
98% reported pain.
Of the early years staff we surveyed, 98% reported experiencing pain whilst working. It was most often in the lower back (Turvill et al., 2024).
It adds up
More years, more places it hurts.
The longer people had worked in early years, the more parts of their body hurt, and age alone did not explain this. One practitioner asked: “I’m only 26, what is my body going to be like in the next 10 years?”
Day by day
Often a daily presence.
Those who lifted, stooped or worked at floor level more often were in pain more often. Many keep working through it: “I have to take strong painkillers daily in order to fulfil my role.”
Looking ahead
It can shape careers.
36% of the staff we surveyed had thought about leaving their job because of pain, and some are wondering how long they can carry on.
Why so many people stay quiet
Not mentioning it is very common.
Many practitioners told us they had not reported their pain to a manager. The reasons they gave were often ones that most people will recognise:
- “Thought it was normal.” Pain can come to feel like an expected part of the work.
- “Just felt it is my age.” Many put it down to age or posture, which can stop them seeking help.
- “Don’t want to be a bother.” Many do not want to add to a busy manager’s workload or be seen as complaining.
Practitioner
It is understandable. But when pain goes unmentioned, nobody can look at what might be contributing to it, and it can carry on, or build, for years.
Raising it at work
Mentioning it early is not complaining.
It is how a setting finds out what needs attention. Employers have a legal duty to assess and reduce the risks from lifting and carrying (Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992), and they can only do that if they know there is a problem.
If pain is affecting you, a conversation with your manager is a good first step. If it is persistent or getting worse, speak to your GP as well. Work SMARTey is about looking at the roles, rooms and culture that sit behind the pain, so that dealing with it does not rest on individuals alone.
Frequently asked questions
Will I get into trouble for mentioning pain?
You should not. Employers have a duty to look after their staff’s health and safety, and pain reported early gives them the chance to act. If you are worried about how it will be received, you could start by describing what you notice (for example, which tasks are hardest) rather than asking for something in particular.
Is it just my age or my posture?
Many people think so, but in our survey age alone did not explain the pain. The longer people had worked in early years, the more parts of their body hurt. The more often people lifted, stooped or worked at floor level, the more often they were in pain.
Is pain just part of the job?
It is very common, which is why many people see it that way. But common does not mean it has to be accepted. Many settings are doing more to look at the causes, and Work SMARTey aims to make that easier.
What can I do on my own?
A good first step is to mention it to your manager, and to see your GP if it is persistent. We are developing practical support for practitioners: join the mailing list and we will tell you when it is ready.
What if my manager is in pain too?
It is more common than you might think: some of the leaders we surveyed told us about their own pain. Our page for managers and leaders sets out how pain shows up in a setting, which may be helpful to share.
Have a question of your own?
If your question isn’t answered here, ask us directly and we will get back to you.
Next steps
Stay up to date with Work SMARTey.
We are turning what we have learned into practical support for staff, settings and early years organisations of all sizes.
Full details of every source are on our Sources and references page.