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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be jealous my nursery teacher friend is on more than me

273 replies

Nurseryh · 21/07/2022 19:27

I'm a nursery manager on £23,000; have a been in the job a couple of years. My friend is a nursery teacher and comparing wages, I'm shocked. After having a chat, we literally do the similar things. I feel a bit put off by it but I suppose I'm the stupid one for not qualifying.

What is it with the UK government and loving to have staff on the cheap? Why am I on so much less for literally the same job apart from the different name??

OP posts:
ClassSize2022 · 21/07/2022 19:28

Because your friend went and got qualified. Unfortunately those who do not have qualifications often get paid less. It takes time to study. Maybe you can do that now? And you might end up on even more!

Idontgiveagriffindamn · 21/07/2022 19:29

Do you have the same qualifications or does she have a teaching qualification?

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 21/07/2022 19:29

Instead of being pissed off, find out about the qualifications you know you need and increase your earning potential?

Newpuppymummy · 21/07/2022 19:29

Because she spent three years getting a degree and a PGCE. So 4 years training and being paid nothing.

namechange30455 · 21/07/2022 19:29

If she's a teacher is she public sector and you're private? Your OP implies it's the other way round but I'd associate teacher with a school nursery class and manager with a private nursery?

Royalbloo · 21/07/2022 19:30

What greenfingers said

Original poster
Nurseryh · 21/07/2022 19:30

I have all the childcare qualifications and years of nursery experience - not teaching though - I still plan for my nursery, do the circle time, speak to the parents, even have to pay for equipment sometimes

OP posts:
howshouldibehave · 21/07/2022 19:30

What qualifications do you have? What qualifications does your friend have?

Are you saying that she is a qualified teacher and you aren’t?

luxxlisbon · 21/07/2022 19:31

What does the government have to do with your low salary when you work in the private sector?

Original poster
Nurseryh · 21/07/2022 19:32

I'm not qualified but I feel my pay is pittance when compared to hers for the same job. Yes I should get qualified but it just shocks me how the private sector can be so different

OP posts:
Original poster
Nurseryh · 21/07/2022 19:33

Because it's still seeing childcare as 'pay on the cheap'

OP posts:
Testina · 21/07/2022 19:34

It’s not the same job. She’s a qualified teacher.
Also joining those curious at why this is the government’s fault when she’s on their payroll and you’re not?

Itisasecret · 21/07/2022 19:34

So she’s a qualified teacher (4 years of study and about 60k debt). That’s the difference. Same as teacher/TA. That said so many teachers are now TAs as they don’t want the persistent scrutiny.

luxxlisbon · 21/07/2022 19:35

It isn’t the same job though. Being a teacher, even for infants is not the same as working in a nursery.

Original poster
Nurseryh · 21/07/2022 19:36

I plan for the children, I arrange the activities, I tell the nursery nurses tasks for the day, I visit parents before their children join the nursery, I stay behind after work sorting out the next day activities, I observe the children, we do circle time on the carpet, our nursery has started doing phonic input, we do our numbers etc.

OP posts:
Ggu · 21/07/2022 19:36

I don't think it's the same job (obviously i haven't worked in your jobs though!). I have worked in both areas and one major thing that jumps out at me is that there aren't many aspects of line management in teaching roles whereas that's (almost always) the majority of the responsibility for a nursery manager.

Original poster
Nurseryh · 21/07/2022 19:38

I also have a degree in BSL and deaf studies so I have debt myself

OP posts:
EV117 · 21/07/2022 19:38

The job may sound like it entails the same but I’m not convinced. Like you say the teacher earns more, that’s more expensive for the nursery or the school it is attached to.There will be a reason they are willing to pay more.

Holly60 · 21/07/2022 19:38

Testina · 21/07/2022 19:34

It’s not the same job. She’s a qualified teacher.
Also joining those curious at why this is the government’s fault when she’s on their payroll and you’re not?

Yes I'm assuming you work in the private sector and she works in the public sector - so really you should be taking this up with your employers?

The obvious thing would be for you to train as a teacher I guess.

IncompleteSenten · 21/07/2022 19:39

Apply for nursery teaching jobs.

Holly60 · 21/07/2022 19:39

EV117 · 21/07/2022 19:38

The job may sound like it entails the same but I’m not convinced. Like you say the teacher earns more, that’s more expensive for the nursery or the school it is attached to.There will be a reason they are willing to pay more.

All it is, is that there is a national pay scale for teachers in the public sector as opposed to nursery staff in the private sector.

The work is largely the same I think

Original poster
Nurseryh · 21/07/2022 19:40

@EV117 yes because it's public sector. I just find it quite sad that childcare is still poorly paid. Been in the industry years, I am a fluent BSL speaker, absolutely love working with children so the pay has no bothered me because all the nurseries I know of don't have qualified nursery teachers so never really compared pay until now

OP posts:
Sciurus83 · 21/07/2022 19:41

Pay for staff in nurseries is an absolute disgrace. The sector is in crisis and I really hope things get better for you and your colleagues

housepilot · 21/07/2022 19:41

Can you do an EY PGCE or similar teacher training?

Holly60 · 21/07/2022 19:41

So preschool teachers are paid the same as all primary teachers (and all secondary for that matter)