To ask if you work in a nursery...what is it like?

[littlemunkah]

Sorry, posting for traffic and would appreciate some info on this.

My dcs are both toddlers, I'm a SAHM with them both during the day and currently work evenings in retail. My evening job is soul destroying and I'm contemplating quitting soon.

My eldest goes to nursery a couple of mornings a week and I love all the things he learns there and as chaotic and loud as the nursery is I would love to work there. I'm obsessed with messy/sensory play and crafts...probably more than my dcs .

I've been debating doing an open uni degree and becoming a primary teacher but my friend who is leaving the profession told me it's absolutely horrendous. However I like the idea of teaching and working with children without the pressures of strict curriculum and exams etc.

Obviously the starting pay is minimum wage but my current wage isn't far off that and there would hopefully be progression long term. Plus surely it's a pretty rewarding job.

Am I mad? It looks utterly bonkers, but I think I'd be a good fit

Have you thought about childminding instead? Obviously you'd have the stresses of running your own business, but also a lot more autonomy.

I'm a teacher and I know a few people who work in nurseries. If you love playing with children, seeing them progress, building relationships with them, it's great. The pay is low unless you have room leader or manager responsibilities. The paperwork for nursery is still substantial. Stroppy, parents might take their bad day at work stress out on you. Some nurseries start at 7. 30am and finish at 6pm. Would your children be going to the same nursery or do you already have childcare for them?

A lot of nurseries work on shift patterns. So one week you could be working 7.30am- 4.30pm and the next 9.00am - 6pm. It's also important to remember that unlike working in schools you won't get all the holidays off, so you would have to think about how would that work with childcare.

It's also important to remember that unlike working in schools you won't get all the holidays off, so you would have to think about how would that work with childcare.

Doesn't that depend on the nursery? At my son's nursery a good proportion of the staff are term-time only (his keyworker is) because a lot of the children are. His nursery is attached to a college and that's why term-time only is so popular, but there were others around us that offered term-time only places, and presumably they drop down staff numbers for the holidays if they do this?

Obviously a term-time only job would further reduce the pay, though.

Worth exploring! Much as I loved the nursery age, I was still relieved when it was over because it was so exhausting. If you enjoy the noise and crafts go for it - other Mums need you!

Doesn't that depend on the nursery?

You're right. It wasn't something I encountered often when I worked in nurseries, but it's an option. Like you say though it will reduce the pay.

I worked P/T in a Nursery and enjoyed it.However I was just Bank Staff so had a contract where I had All the school holidays off ,and some more as it was a Uni, and a lot of the children s parents worked there or were studying.The problem was that if any children caught something, it would be picked up by the staff!.Also there is a big pay disparity between early years and Teaching staff!.Why not see if there are any P/T roles on Bank Staff?.Or you could volunteer ,Its great fun but quit tiring and the hours are long 9 to 6 there ,

Do it OP you have nothing to lose and it sounds like youd be perfect for it.

Ive worked in private day nurseries and now work in a school nursery.

I personally wouldn't go back to the private day nurseries...loved the kids, loved working with them....hated how low paid, long hours and bosses who expected far too much!! (It's impossible to watch, teach, feed and do everything with children and all the paperwork at the same time!!! But could just be my ex bosses)

School is a lot more structured, slightly better pay as it's through council, we are rota-ed an afternoon each to do our paperwork.

I love been a nursery assistant, I started by volunteering at school and got a job there.

There's also jobs such as nursery practitioner, teaching assistant, and higher level teaching assistant.

Our childminder started out in nurseries- moves up to management and got fed up with all the paperwork and not enough time with the kids. She left and that’s when she became a cm.

She’s amazing- really motivated so the kids go out to a park or toddler group at least once a day, and she does loads of arts and crafts with them. She rotates her mountain of toys and really engages with the children.

It’s not great. There’s way too much paperwork and not enough time with the children. Management care more about the paperwork. Pay is crap and there really isn’t much progression. Maybe room leader but pay is only 2k a year more on average (to about 22k maximum) and loads of responsibility.
Management usually needs a degree, pay is still not amazing and you’re taken away from the kids.

I studied for 2 years to get my level 3. After a few years, a pay rise and promotion to deputy room leader I’m still on on 18.5k

I guess it depends on the setting. I worked in a nursery when my children were younger, part time and term time only, seemed like a great idea. Reality was minimum wage and 13 weeks off a year meant very little money, and we were expected to do all paperwork in our own time, plus stay later (unpaid) to finish cleaning up! Lovely being with the children though!

I work in a school nursery and I love it, word of warning though, I spent my first term there super sick, the kids give you everything and takes a while for immunity to build up. Also for me at first it was emotionally and physically draining, and I don't think I'd be able to do it with young kids of my own as at the end of the day all my emotional energy had been spent! It did get easier but I expect this term will be very tiring with getting the new in take into the regime. You might find it slightly easier to be a key stage 1 TA, but early years, in my opinion, is more fun!

plus stay later (unpaid) to finish cleaning up!

This was the reality where I worked as well, and if any children were late being collected you were also expected to stay for no extra pay.