To wonder why people become teachers and not nannies?

[LollyScramble]

We all know that teaching is rewarding -- but also super hard work and can be very stressful.

I am currently looking into hiring a nanny and I am at the cost. You have to find £35-45K for a Central London who may not have any qualifications in particular.

Meanwhile, the average pay for a fully qualified Primary School Teacher is only £24,001 per year!

Why don't all the primary school teachers go and become nannies?! Personally I'd love to hire a former reception teacher who has been highly trained in child development and knows how to cope with 20+ kids at once. She'd find my DC a doddle and she'd get a massive payrise.

What am I missing?!

[sandylion]

As I say, I LIKE my pupils, in fact I've never taught one I've actually disliked in ten years (and I have had some challenges through the door!) They like me too. It's not like I actively hate children on a daily basis I just feel nothing towards them when I am not working. I have no chat for children I don't know, especially younger ones. I don't EVER see children when I am out and think "awww how cute". I think that if you are a nanny you need to have that sort of "love" of children. I will stick to my preference for my pupils and teaching.

[LollyScramble]

Suburban what do you mean that teachers' holidays are unpaid?

[ThePrinceofParties]

the hours

before you all shout at me, I KNOW teachers work a lot longer than 9-3.30.
But the teachers I know can take lots of stuff home, and many do the afternoon school run, spend some time with their own DC, and then pick work up again after supper.

when my DSIS nannied in Central London her standard day at her employer's house was 7am-7pm, and of course she'd occasionally stay later if the parents were delayed. The latter working pattern might be fewer hours overall, but far less family friendly as there's no flexibility.

[cleaty]

Doing marking at home with your family around you, is very different to being out of the house, or working in someone else's house. Also finding a good nanny job with high pay, and parents who do not have unrealistic demands, is not easy. Read some nanny boards to see the kind of routine issues nannies deal with. Things like parents not coming home when they are supposed to, are common issues. And nannies would be sacked if they called Social Services once parents were 30 minutes late, as many schools do.

[Kreacherelf]

From the way people sound on here, a lot of Mumsnetters seem to think that teachers are nannies!

[ListObsessed]

Lolly, I think Suburban is referring to the fact that teachers have 4 weeks of paid holiday. The rest is unpaid.

[squizita]

But the teachers I know can take lots of stuff home, and many do the afternoon school run, spend some time with their own DC, and then pick work up again after supper.

Wow, where do they work? Lucky things. You know they inspect our marking right? I once clocked up 20 extra hours after mock exams and a coursework deadline.

[ListObsessed]

Prince, how do they do the school run, unless their children go to the school they work at?

[DarkRoots]

'To me it seems such a great low stress job'

I suppose it depends what you find stressful, though. My childminder (I know it's different from a nanny, btw) gave up her career to become a childminder and loves it. And is AMAZING at it.

It's my idea of hell! We laugh that we both feel that about each other's job. I found being on my own with DD, as gorgeous as she is, 'stressful' full time. I love teaching.

They are two totally different jobs, with different skills needed and different career paths. My day looking after DD is utterly different to my day in school.

And samdylion - I get you!

[ErrinPerrin]

I've been a nanny for years. The worst thing: no one ever tells you you're doing a good job. You're just taken for granted until you do something that is disapproved of. Then more often than not there'll be a snotty note waiting for you on the kitchen table in the morning.

[MadHattersWineParty]

Totally agree with that Errin. I have no idea of I'm doing a good job most of the time- except when I go for months and months not being pulled up on anything, I think I must be, because MB always sends me an email entitled 'a few things...' if she's ever not happy about something!

[GloriaSmellens]

But the teachers I know can take lots of stuff home, and many do the afternoon school run, spend some time with their own DC, and then pick work up again after supper.

Wow, the teachers you know must be actual real life superheroes - what with their ability to physically split themselves in half so that one half can go and pick up their kids and the other half can dismiss the children from their own class! This superpower must also come in handy as it must mean that they are able to have all of their meetings with SLT, other staff, parents, social workers, SALTS etc etc etc whilst simultaneously teaching their class, so they can leave in time for the afternoon school run at their own kids school.

[squizita]

YY ... how on earth can you be on duty and meet your kids' teacher/pick them up if you are the person paid to do that at another school?

[Squiffy01]

Because they are two completely different jobs?!

Nannies especially in central London can earn a lot of money but if you have a good one she earns every single penny!
But it gets to a stage where you just can't earn anymore or if you have had a few pay rises in one job you go down in your next job and start again from the 'going' rate. So I think in the long run teachers are paid more and better off.

[SuburbanRhonda]

OP, a teacher's salary is based on getting paid term time only but the actual pay is split into 12 equal amounts so they get paid each month throughout the year.

[StealthPolarBear]

Which must mean if you leave a etching job at end of July and start a new one outside of teaching on 1st August you'd get two payslips for august!

[squizita]

Stealth No? Why would that be? Teachers don't have to work '1 year' contracts, if they leave then their pay stops, if they start mi year their pay starts.
You'd get paid for July. All Suburban means is that when they budget for teaching wages they decide what they'll pay for, say 200 days work and use that to decide the annual wage. So if you leave in July you don't get paid for your holiday (and yes, you lose out ... which is why if you're wise you will negotiate between 2 heads that there are no 'gaps' when you switch schools, although I've had unpaid summers between jobs as they couldn't afford that ... and some schools now use Sep-July contracts so if they had to cut some cost pronto, they could!).

[squizita]

...it's basically easier all round admin wise, than paying us more September-July, and a bit less over Xmas and Easter. Well now a computer could do it, but in the past it obviously was. It's also attractive to employees to have the same amount in every month, even though it's slightly lower.

[habibihabibi]

I'm a teacher who employs a live in nanny. I am creativity simulated by my job and would never dream of doing hers. It's beyond dull now both are at school but she fills all the gaps of family life that would make me stressed and not do my jon properly.

[habibihabibi]

~job~

[spanieleyes]

Actually, squizita is wrong, if a teacher resigns as from 31 August, they will be paid over the school holiday ( so in July and August) Technically the school could ask you to do some work over the summer but generally all directed time is taken during term time. So you could start another non-teaching post at the end of July and be paid twice for August!

[SuburbanRhonda]

I don't think many schools would take on a new member of staff at the end of July.

If you stayed in the same LA you would definitely not be paid twice.

[SuburbanRhonda]

Sorry, spaniel, just saw you said "non-teaching" post.

[spanieleyes]

Some schools do employ a new member of staff over the summer, usually NQTs in schools where recruitment is difficult. If there is competition for staff, a school might offer the incentive of summer pay to attract staff. There is usually an expectation that such staff would work the last couple of weeks of the summer term and then do planning/lesson prep/class/prep over the summer-as other teachers are expected to do too!

[StealthPolarBear]

Squizita because by definition the pay in august is for work already done. Teachers don't get paid for august. So if you resign at end of July to take a non teaching job on 1 Aug, you'd still be owed some money.