Preschool Interview - Internal Dilemma!!

[Frantastic84]

Ok, sorry if this is the wrong place to post, it’s been a few years! Any advice gratefully received. I work in the HR department of a very corporate environment. I am very lucky that I now work school hours for three days a week and I earn a good salary, so don’t have much to complain about.

But... for the last couple of years, since returning to work after DC2 I’ve been very unhappy there, the company is changing and working part time is not welcomed, so I feel awkward about it and it’s a rush to get there from school and then back to school again. Anyway, I’m starting to ramble which I didn’t want to do. I’ll get to the point!

I applied for a preschool practitioner role at my sons old preschool which is an absolutely fantastic place. Now I have no qualifications whatsoever in childcare but the advert stated that it wasn’t essential if you’re willing to train, which I am. So I went in for a ‘taster session’ which was a morning of just getting stuck in and playing with the kids, I loved it and stayed 45 past finish time as I didn’t realise how late it was.

I’ve now been asked back for a second ‘interview’ so I’m really excited, but very nervous too. The main issue is the salary is so low, almost half what I currently earn and although we could scrape by, it would be a struggle. But I can’t help but think that the pros outweighs the cons. The team there are absolutely lovely. Term time would be a dream. Although it’s five days a week versus three days now, they are school hours. It’s be amazing to have a complete change of environment and be able to go back to study, change my career and not spend the rest of my days wasting away behind a desk. And the bonus of being able to walk to work saving on petrol and parking. And DC2 joining preschool next September which they’ve said isnt a problem as long as I let the others deal with her - fine by me! 😂 I’m aware I would be giving up a lot; 10 years service, decent salary, great hours, good pension, tw*t of a boss 🙊

God I really didn’t mean to turn this into a rant, as you can see I’m having an internal battle and just needed to get it out, but any advice would be gratefully received.

Also, for my interview I need to prepare an activity for the children that covers all stages of learning in the EYFS if anyone has any stomping ideas!

Sorry again for my mammoth post, maybe I will sleep tonight now...

[pinkdelight]

If it's any help at all, it sounds from your post like you want the job and would be much happier there. As long as it covers the bills, which is does, then the pro's sound more important than 10 years service etc in the wrong job. It sounds like the right move, if you get it, and if you don't then nothing has changed and you can learn from your gut reaction whether to explore other opportunities and maybe start to retrain.

[Sunrisesand]

You already have great hours and paid more now doing 3 days that you would doing 5?

[insancerre]

www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/2015/09/4Children_ParentsGuide_Sept_2015v4WEB1.pdf
This is a good version of the EYFS
There is no way you can cover the whole EYFS in one activity
It has 7 areas of learning, goes from 0-5 and also covers characteristics of effective learning
Maybe concentrate on the prime area of communication and language and do some action rhymes or use a puppet to tell a story
And good luck
Working in early years is very rewarding and hard work

[GreenTulips]

Make a financial list
Savings - holiday childcare petrol parking corporate clothes possibly lunches out

Then look at slalary of qualified staff and how long till you get there

www.bestbeginningsalaska.org/activities-resources/child-development-areas

These are the 5 stages you need an activity such as - a game - where they work innpairs, covers relationships and physical movement - now they need to talk giving you the communication - add a problem they need to solve

[Frantastic84]

Thank you for all your replies. Yes Sunrisend, I’d be earning less for 25 hours than I do now for 15. That’s the biggest worry for me, I’m trying to weigh it up but can’t shake the feeling that I’d regret it if I didn’t. It all might be for nothing yet, I may not get the job!

[Tumbleweed101]

I took the leap into Childcare from an unrelated field and have loved it. You have a chance to get creative and messy and if the team is a good one you have fun.

Activity ideas - visit pintrest and type in preschool activities. Loads of ideas there :)

[HSMMaCM]

All areas of the EYFS is tricky unless you're doing a long activity

Counting songs

• PSED singing with friends
• PD moving as they sing
• C&L using words while they sing
• L looking at the song words and pictures
• M numbers in the songs
• UW songs about animals, or families, or switching on the music
• EAD using their imaginations for the actions

That is stretching it a bit though

[MissJSays]

Go for it! I work with pre school and love it, the job gets better the longer you are there as you make really strong bonds with the children.

I’m not so sure about that @insancerre
Baking could be a good activity to cover all areas of learning.
PSED - turn taking and sharing
C&L - talking about what you’re doing as you do it, use descriptive language and encouraging the children to listen to you and to each other. Encourage lots of talking.
PD - using gross motor skills to mix, fine motor skills to twist a lid open or using one handed tools such as scissors to open packets.
M - measuring, counting (1 egg, 2 eggs etc)
L - reading a recipe and finding letters (e.g. Katie, can you see a K For Katie on my recipe sheet?)
UTW - using equipment such as a hand whisk and talk about how the children move the handle to make the cogg spin the whisks
EAD - decorating the cakes at the end using different coloured icing
What do you think?

[Frantastic84]

Thanks for the replies. Think I’ll go with the baking or planting seeds and maybe put the activity down on paper so I don’t fluff my lines 😂 Would love to make the jump, here’s hoping the interview goes well.

[silver1977]

Of course you can cover all areas of learning in 1 activity! You will be surprised! With an adult led activity you can ask questions/lead to an area of learning you want them to cover. I made the move from a desk job 13 years ago and haven't looked back. Obviously the money is the only drawback but if you can manage for now then there is scope to increase your wages slightly, if you train and work your way up? Fits in great with having school age children. My DS was at pre-school with me for a while, not ideal but he did have a day there without me which helped him. I tried so hard to not treat him differently to the others that I probably ignored him too much! Good luck!