Changing from teaching KS5 to nursery

[SaltedCaramelEverything]

I currently teach A Levels and have done for the last few years as there is enough demand at my school for my subjects to not need to teach KS3 or KS4. I had been really enjoying it but over the last year I've thought about changing.

I'm considering looking into being a nursery teacher. Firstly - is there any chance I would get a job doing this? My degree is in psychology and I did child development modules. I know I would have LOADS to learn, but would I be considered? I'm currently second in my large department, get outstanding in observations and run lots of CPD in school so hope that shows I am good at what I do and could learn to do well in nursery too. I would also use maternity leave to get work experience in a nursery even if just for a few days so I would learn a bit about what the job involves and be able to show some knowledge at interview.

Secondly - what is the work load like? I am SO sick of marking essays. I am in no way assuming the grass is greener - e.g. I know that although the PE teachers at my school have less marking, they spend hours at fixtures each week! So not having essays to mark appeals but I know there will be other work, just not sure what!

My main reason is that DC1 is due this spring, so I'm thinking perhaps for September 2018. There are loads of primary schools near where I live so I would have more schools to apply for (if they would even consider a job application from me) whereas for secondary school there aren't as many so finding a school that's local that would make childcare easier would be harder. I can't face a one hour commute each way to my current school when I have a baby!

Any honest answers and advice would be really appreciated.

[user1483387154]

Do you mean Teaching Nursery/Reception in a school or a private Nursery?

[Tollygunge]

What subject are you? If you're pe/music/art or maths or science this is becoming increasingly common in London

[Primaryteach87]

Would you get a job? Probably not a perm job, you'd need to do supply first.
What is the workload? Lots of scrapbooks, observations, highlighting grids etc. Also the practical set up each day. The EYFS teachers used to be the earliest into school as they had to set their classrooms up much more than ks1 or 2.

[SaltedCaramelEverything]

Thanks so much for replies so quickly

@user1483387154 I was thinking nursery as in attached to an infant school so early years stage. Still a qualified teacher job.

@tollygunge unfortunately none of those. Psych and soc. However I have taught history and geography at KS3 and line manage the geography teachers now (no idea if that's useful info at all)

@primaryteach87 getting in early I could do as hopefully DH can do morning drop off of DC to childcare. The teachers that get in early, do they stay late too? I can manage one or the other. But getting in for 7.30 and getting home at 5 with 2 hours of marking every night I just don't want anymore. Good tip about supply work too thanks.

[user1483387154]

To be honest you are likely to be working just as many hours in Nursery as you are currently. It is very normal for EYFS staff to be in school 07:30 to 17:00 and although not marking at night there are so many resources you will need to make and observations to cross reference that there will be stuff to do at home too.

I would also say that supply teaching may be a good way to get into it and see if it really is something that you want to do. At least that way you wont have the same hours to complete (12 years as a teacher here, head of EYFS for 4 and 1 year as a supply teacher before I left the profession)

[rollonthesummer]

I doubt you'd have any difficulty getting a job-there's a huge recruitment crisis and as long as you are a teacher, you'll be fine.

You won't have two hours of marking to do each evening but you will have a lot of planning and assessment and don't underestimate the time spent on the learning journals. Go and speak to some nursery teachers and ask what they do in the evenings. Ours are in at 7.30 and leave at 6.30 with piles of learning journeys in a box.

Be aware also that it's only generally schools in a deprived area that have a nursery class attached, so in the 10 schools nearest to me, only one has a nursery so the jobs don't come up very often.

Go and help out in a nursery class for a few weeks and see what you think. Would you consider reception or ks1?

[Primaryteach87]

To be honest I'm not sure you'd find the workload different. Certainly colleagues in this age were doing two hours of the various things I mentioned.

I've only taught as far down as reception but if you're hoping to get a better work life balance I don't think this is your solution.

Sorry:-( I recently left teaching to work in a charity. My only advise would be - the grass is greener! Changing to work with teens in a different career would probably badly be less work as well than switch to such a different age group.

[rosewineisgreat]

I have taught nursery and now I'm back in Key Stage 2. Nursery was far easier in terms of workload. Far less planning and marking. It was also more fun. But in the end it did not offer me enough challenge and after 7 years I was bored (if I'm honest) and requested a move to KS2. I should note that I was in a big school nursery with a lot of support staff so my learning journey file work was shared amongst many. It wasn't the same for nursery teachers I knew in other schools who had just one teacher and one or two nursery nurses. In those cases the teacher was doing 52 learning journey files!!! Nursery teacher jobs are highly sought after where I am and my school wouldn't employ someone without experience. You would do well to do some supply or volunteer work.