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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how you view nursery staff?

173 replies

NancyFrank · 04/10/2018 18:07

I work in a nursery and love my job. However I sometimes feel it isn't viewed as a 'good' job or there is maybe a stereotype of who works in nurseries and pre-schools ect. The money is pretty much minimum wage (for caring for and educating children in their earliest years, but that is another debate) and the hours are long but I love working with children and struggle to think of a 'better' job that would give me the same satisfaction. I get comments quite regularly on what I will do 'next' aibu to view this as a career, albeit a badly paid one with not much progression..?

OP posts:
RoboJesus · 04/10/2018 18:27

In my experience they do a just about passable job of keeping them alive and that's it.

Noodledoodledoo · 04/10/2018 18:29

RoboJesus that sounds like a poor nursery then, most people I know who use nursery's have nothing but praise for the staff.

oldsewandsew · 04/10/2018 18:29

The staff at my DC’s nursery are so dedicated, and such lovely people. Men and women, of all ages, they are always cheerful and polite and calm, and I am in awe of them!

londonliv · 04/10/2018 18:30

I don't look down on the staff at my DS nursery at all - I'm very grateful that they care & look after him so well. I also can't imagine doing their job - it must be so loud & full on all day so I am full of admiration!!

Walkerbean16 · 04/10/2018 18:30

Thats a bit rude Macosie, I work in a preschool, all the staff have degrees except the student and she is amazing at only 18.

We got a wedding invitation from one of our parents last week which is lovely.

GunpowderGelatine · 04/10/2018 18:30

As magical people who somehow get 10 babies and toddlers to nap, all at the same time, with no fuss. Seriously how the F do you do it?! Do you drug them? You must drug them?

Itsatravesty · 04/10/2018 18:31

My DS is long out of nursery, nearing the end of primary. He went to the attached school nursery and it's still pretty much the same staff, all fairly mature women who do a wonderful job. I actually bumped into one of his old nursery teachers yesterday and had a nice chat, I was amazed as she remembered so much about him despite him being there years ago. But yes, as with any caring profession vastly underpaid.

Wetdressinggownsleeve · 04/10/2018 18:32

It's a job I can't understand why anyone would want Blush sorry.

That's not to say it isn't important, like carers, it's a vital job. But the training required vs the pay? Fuck that.

ineedwine99 · 04/10/2018 18:32

I think they are superstars!

KimoraLee · 04/10/2018 18:32

In my experience they do a just about passable job of keeping them alive and that's it.

I've never put my dc in a nursery where they just about kept them alive, if you have you need to ask yourself why?

user1471426142 · 04/10/2018 18:32

My daughter loves the nursery staff like family - particularly when she was in the baby room. Seeing her so happy means I can go to work. A lot of them then they do a better job than I do to be frank and she has so many opportunities that I would never had been able to do myself. I wish nursery staff were better paid but I would struggle to pay much more. The answer has to be greater subsidies and a real effort to promote and value early years provision.

DoYouLikeHueyLewisandTheNews · 04/10/2018 18:34

I think they’re amazing. Don’t get me wrong I’ve visited potential nurseries and got negative vibes from certain staff, but the ladies at the one we went for are engaging, polite, friendly and imaginative and deserve far more pay for the amount of responsibility and stress they deal with daily. I try to show how much I appreciate all they do because they are a such a vital cog in our family and homelife set up.

Kemer2018 · 04/10/2018 18:35

Nursery staff are underpaid. I wouldn't encourage this for my child simply because she could not become independent on the wage.
Apart from nursery worker who followed kids spraying air freshener on their bums because they'd farted, i liked them.

RoboJesus · 04/10/2018 18:35

Noodledoodledoo nope. Standard in all the ones I've known.

FourEyesGood · 04/10/2018 18:37

The staff at my DCs’ nursery were incredible. They were patient and caring, and definitely underpaid.
Generally I’d advise you to ignore others’ comments as long as you’re happy with your job.

SpottingTheZebras · 04/10/2018 18:38

I think you are underpaid, under appreciated and do a wonderful job. I think of you exactly the same as I do teachers, except at least they get a little more money and status.

Kolo · 04/10/2018 18:41

I was a teacher in a secondary school before working with EYFS (and primary aged kids providing wraparound care). Although I do feel valued in what I do, I’ve definitely felt parents talk ‘down’ to me as if I’m not very bright. Parents used to talk to me as an equal or even an authority on their kids education when I was a teacher. I’ve noticed a big difference. Which is a real shame because I now know how much skill, experience and training goes into childcare qualifications. The knowledge required to be good at delivering the EYFS is complex. At my place you’d need to be level 3 qualified in childcare, paediatric first aid trained, food handling trained, as well as possess so many other skills in order to do your job effectively.
I also don’t get paid anywhere near what I did as a teacher.

Otterses · 04/10/2018 18:42

I'm terrified of nursery teachers and think they look down on ME Blush I worry they wonder how on Earth I manage to keep DS alive.

I feel like they have a thousand times more knowledge and experience than me, I think I actually maybe feel a little inferior in comparison!

glintandglide · 04/10/2018 18:42

Robo there are plenty of bad nurseries (nearly always its bad management) but you don’t send your children to them Shock

Oobis · 04/10/2018 18:43

With awe and gratitude Thanks

colditz · 04/10/2018 18:44

Why did you make the career move then, Kolo?

MamaHechtick · 04/10/2018 18:44

The staff at my DC's nursery were honestly fantastic. They really helped me with my first, I had no family support and they helped on potty training, eating and getting rid of the dummy.
DS last nursery teacher had been at the nursery for 17 years, she completely changed DS into a confident little boy, I will remember her forever.

I don't think nursery staff get enough recognition and I don't think people realise just what a fountain of knowledge they have.

Fluffymullet · 04/10/2018 18:45

When you are handing over the most precious loved little being in your life you have to trust those caring for them and the staff at my DCS nursery are mostly lovely. Some of the staff clearly love the kids and the kids adore them. I try and say thank you each day and that I appreciate their work but probably don't get that across as I'm rushing to get 2 tired kids home.

I think the caring/teaching professions as a whole are undervalued. I'm not sure what the career progression is like but job satisfaction is a huge bonus!

I think society has changed and with more working stressed parents and kids in for longer hours the job must be harder. You are appreciated though x

lovetherisingsun · 04/10/2018 18:49

I was having this discussion with another mother the other day. We were saying how respect we have for nursery staff - I don't think I could cope with a whole room full of other people's children all day every day. My hat off to you lady. You take care of my child, you give them hugs if they fall over, you help raise them for me whilst I can't be there, you reassure them and read tto them and dance with them and paint with them. I have so much thankfulness for my children's pre-school workers.

LoobysMummy14 · 04/10/2018 18:53

None of the ladies and gents that I have ever met in childcare are dim Hmm that is a very stereotypical view. Yes I am a nursery assistant and I have 2 children, I can say I am anything but dim.
And op it is true we are looked down on by some parents. But then you get the truly amazing parents who actually are grateful for the work we do to 'keep them alive'
I love my job, yes sometimes it's freaking hard but honestly I wouldn't change it and I love getting to know all of the children in my care and their families.