My friend just got a job as a cleaner, she is cleaning upmarket holiday cottages and being paid 10 pounds an hour. In contrast, I work in a small preschool and get paid 8.50 an hour (leaders role). It just seems odd to me that society values what I do so poorly. I have to take on responsibility for these small children in loco parentis, take care of their physical and emotional needs, their safety and well being, manage toilet training, nappy changing, etc, I also have to provide stimulating and enriching activities for them, not only that but we have to have all the planning and paperwork in place, all the safeguarding procedures, all the provision for special needs, I have to deal with the parents, go on training courses to make sure I am legal and up to date, be subjected to day long grillings from Ofsted....8.50 seems a bit measly, no? I am in my 40's, well educated, a Mum, not an inpexperienced 17 year old. I realise it is my choice to do this job and I enjoy it, I love seeing these tiny people learn and grow and love seeing them go on to thrive at school afterwards, the job fits around my own kids, and it is fun! But it's very hard work and physically and mentally demanding. I guess IABU but I just wish I was paid more to do it!