Help me prepare to start SCITT training in Sept.

[MercuryRising]

Hello, I have been accepted on to a Primary SCITT course with an Early Years specialism. Can anybody please suggest things I could do now to prepare for the start of the course. I am looking into childcare and financing and spending two days a week in school but I would be really grateful for any suggestions. I have been a sahm for 8years so whilst excited about the course I am feeling very nervous about the workload.

[Jolielaide]

Congratulations on your place Mercury! The best advice I can give is to manage your family's expectations for the next year, do online food shopping and hire a cleaner!

I didn't have children when i did my PGCE, but during the school placements I was incapable of doing anything around the house during the week. My dp was great and really supportive, but even he got cheesed off with doing all of the cooking and household chores mid-week.Spend lots of quality time with your children and partner from now until September.

[HalfSpamHalfBrisket]

Well done Mercury!
Experience in school is the main thing, as SCITT students are meant to come in with previous experience/knowledge so they can get a flying start, so get as much time in school/nursery as you can.
Apart from that, have a look at the TES early years forum, and perhaps start reading some early years books - The Reception Year In Action (Anna Ephgrave) is one I recommend.
Also:
Starting from the child - Julie Fisher
Any numeracy books by Derek Haylock "Understanding mathematics for young children" is particularly good.

[Jennywuh]

Hello, I am looking in to applying for a SCITT for sept 2014 start. Do you have any tips mercury? Also how old is your little one/ little ones? My baby will be 16 months when I start, if I get in. Im thinking the career move will be beneficial for him but while I am very busy on the course I can't help but feel guilty he will miss out on time with me. Tricky.

[MercuryRising]

Hi Jenny.

The only tip I can really give you is to get as much experience in school as possible. The people who interviewed me were really interested in the experience I had and what I felt I had learnt from it. I volunteered for two weeks in a middle school just after October half term and then volunteered one day a week for the rest of the year in the same class. I also volunteered in my dcs school. I helped in my sons class one afternoon a week last year and this year when my dd started at the same school I volunteered one morning a week in her class and one afternoon a week in ds class. I really felt this helped me to get my place as it gave me a variety of experience from Early Years up to Yr 3. The other thing I felt they were very interested in was how long and for what reasons I wanted to teach.

I have one ds 7years and one dd 5 years. I completely understand your concern about missing out on time with your child, that is still my biggest concern.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Ultimately happy children need happy mums and I think they benefit from seeing their parents work hard to achieve their goals.