A new campaign to encourage Surrey men to work in early education and childcare has been launched to ensure children grow up with positive male role models.

The campaign, run by Surrey County Council’s early years and childcare service, is believed to be the only one of its kind in England and is based on interviews with men already working in the profession.

Organisers hope the campaign will address the gender imbalance which means out of more than 10,716 voluntary and paid childcare staff currently working in Surrey, just 385 are men. That equates to 3.5% - slightly more than the national average of two per cent.

The men involved in Surrey's campaign talk frankly about their experiences and the reactions of other people to their choice of work.

Dan Wadey, who is the manager of the Butterhill Play Group, Dorking, said: “Being a man in childcare has been tricky at times, early on it definitely was tricky. Some of my family, particularly my grandad was quite unsure of me doing it. Although proud now, at the time he wasn't sure about me doing it because he comes from a different generation.”

Stephen Liddle, a play worker at Allsorts After School Club in Weybourne, said: “I think that in today's society, there are a lot of single parents. I think it's a good thing for a man to be there. Children can look up to that, like a second dad really. At first I was a bit dubious about working with children in an after school setting. Once I started it was like a natural thing for me to do.”

Mary Angell, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Children and Families, said: “It is so important for children to have positive male role models in their lives from a very early age and we are committed to giving children the very best start in life.

“The men we have already working in Surrey say the work is challenging and rewarding as well as fun, and we hope we can welcome many more men to the profession in the future.”