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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that nursery teachers should be given more than minwage?

159 replies

rachie2011 · 07/05/2011 21:42

I actually am at home at the moment with my baby. But i will be reaturning to work soon its soooo sad that i have had to go for a cleaning job instead of returing to my job in a nursery which i have done for 6 years and loved every min of it. Fully trainned and adore every second of nursery work but the sad fact is my wage is the lowest it could be and and being alone means i cannot afford to do it. I have had to take a cleaning job which pays double so that i can provide for my baby but i think it is sooo unfair :(

OP posts:
Original poster
rachie2011 · 07/05/2011 21:54

saying that some nurserys may go up abit on wages but only by a few pennies :) It just seems so sad that i walked into a cleaning job which i havnt had to train for and will be getting double pay :(
But at the end of the day its for my baby :)

OP posts:
VajazzHands · 07/05/2011 21:55

Rachie have you tried to find a nursery that would let you bring your baby for a reduced rate since you work there?

Lilyloo · 07/05/2011 21:55

Completely agree , i have worked in child care in private nurseries on min wage. Then schools on more than min wage (just) and after having 3 dc's and doing my degree am back in pre school on min wage !!
Childcare is very poorly paid imo and it is the reason why i will be leaving the profession when my youngest starts school next year , not happy about it though.

noodle69 · 07/05/2011 21:57

rachie I work in a nursery and take my daughter with me. Its good because you can get paid and always be with your child.

LoveLeonardCohen · 07/05/2011 21:57

YANBU I totally agree with you OP. Nursery workers are totally undervalued, it's ridiculous really.

Original poster
rachie2011 · 07/05/2011 21:58

I know Lilyloo it is very sad :( it makes it worst because it is such a rewarding job

OP posts:
LynetteScavo · 07/05/2011 22:00

People are willing to pay more for cleaning than child care. Fact. Sad

florencedougal · 07/05/2011 22:01

its always been the way

i wanted to be a nursery nurse in 1978, but didnt because it was so poorly paid :(

Preggersplayspop · 07/05/2011 22:03

Could you look for a nanny job where you can take your baby with you?

cookielove · 07/05/2011 22:03

Nursery Nurses, Or workers, or assistants are completely underpaid, i know i am one, and i am getting paid probably a lot more than most, not gloating just being honest. Working with the under 5's is fab, if i wanted to work in a nursery school then i would have got that qualification, but i like 0-4 age group. Saying that i am planning to get the level 4 and 5 qualification.

Any who, there may be a nursery out there that you can take your baby to for a reduced rate, (not mine, though staff have to pay the highest rates grrrr)

Lilyloo · 07/05/2011 22:05

Yep i love my job and will be so sad to leave but could get more working at asda !!

Original poster
rachie2011 · 07/05/2011 22:05

I would love to be at nursery with her but she is actually going to a close church chreche that im very fond of and it is not a big dip in money either and with me doing the cleaning job if gives me and baby a much better income :)
Its not the fact i can not survive with this change i just thought it was a shame that nursery staff were not as valued as teachers .
I had a good few old parents stay in contact with me when there little angels went on to 'big school' and its amazing to see the impact you have on others

OP posts:
cookielove · 07/05/2011 22:12

Yes i agree rachie we are completly under valued, lots of parents do keep in touch, but i find lots also just see us as the 'help' grrrrr. Society does not value us either.

triskaidekaphile · 07/05/2011 22:15

It's a disgrace, I agree. The workers at my daughter's nursery are wonderful.

noodle69 · 07/05/2011 22:17

I think the government should part subsidise childcare workers and care assistants tbh

foreverondiet · 07/05/2011 22:18

rachie yes of course in an ideal world, but I looked into setting up a private nursery and when you work out the costs of paying the staff even minimum wage, plus building food etc its very hard to breakeven, because for under 3s the ratio is 1:3 and that was based on charging around £60 per day per child.

Unless the state finance it, the numbers just don't add up as someone else will no doubt post about the high costs of nurseries.

noodle69 · 07/05/2011 22:21

Where were you planning to set it up foreverondiet? My nursery charges £30 a day so £60 sounds like a massive amount of money.

Original poster
rachie2011 · 07/05/2011 22:26

Yes i know that is the promblem nursery is not valued by the goverment its all privite thats what the shame is i belive i and all the nursery staff i have worked alongside do a fab job educating and caring for all the children just as a teacher does.. With all the files and extra paperwork the goverment demand we do aswell you would think they understand our importance i was not demanded the earth like i said im happy to move on and get by but it is a shame that they are not valued better i could not belive i got offered better pay for cleaning! that was all ooo and im not saying cleaning is not a good job for those who do that too :)

OP posts:
griphook · 07/05/2011 23:16

Have you tried looking at other areas, an a trained NNEB and have futher qualifications, also couldn't afford to go back to nursery work as too low paid, but have found a part time job in a children's centre which is much better money than what I would have been on, It works out at just about double the hourly rate, but less hours. Try looking at other areas particular public sector. If you are highly qualified and have experience there is alot out there. Now is the time to look as most children centre have had their funding confirmed. good luck

TransatlanticCityGirl · 07/05/2011 23:20

Supply and demand. It's not always right, but it's the way wages are determined.

LynetteScavo · 08/05/2011 08:22

griphook makes a good point. As a level 5 I would have thought you would be looking at a managers position. Long term, it would surely be a better move to stay in childcare?

Have you looked at what tax credits would bring your income to?

RitaMorgan · 08/05/2011 08:28

Pay in private nurseries is shit - maybe look for a job in a Children's Centre nursery or in a primary school foundation stage class though as they tend to pay better. For example where I am, private nurseries pay £13k-£14k, CCs £19k-£20k.

I also have a level 5 qual (Foundation Degree) - I have a baby too and after my maternity leave have started working as a nanny where I take ds with me. Even with a wage reduction for bringing him the pay is much higher than nursery, no childcare costs, and ds is physically with me all day rather than being in another room at nursery.

KatyMac · 08/05/2011 08:35

I have previously and am currently looking at setting up a nursery

It's not financially viable in our area, and since the change in funding (post 3) it is even less viable

It's sad; every so often the government has a push on opening nurseries (surestart children's centres) then the funding is pulled & they close; in Sweden childcare is well subsidised and much more stable.

Staff turnover is a major issue in the industry this is mainly due to insecurity and poor pay.

This is the main subject I am studying for my degree. The government have decided that each nursery should have a degree qualified member of staff, then they put up the costs of getting a degree - it won't work; so again nurseries may close

lynehamrose · 08/05/2011 08:40

Out of interest, what hourly rate are you paying for your childcare while you go cleaning? And do you know how much the staff are paid?
Because ive got a feeling this may help you see the reasons behind your question. The local nursery to me charges £40 per child per day- it was out of my reach when I had two children, I could not afford £80 per day. I used a cm which worked out cheaper than that but was still the majority of my wage until ds 1 began at school. That's the reality. If I HAD used the nursery I expect the nursery workers would have had a lot more take home pay than me!

notsoqueenofclean · 08/05/2011 08:50

NN's round here, Level 3 can expect to earn £12,500 - £14,000.