Teaching or Nannying?

[lucyalice18]

Hi guys!

I wasn’t sure where to post this but I saw a similar thread had been started on here in 2014 so i was wondering if I could potentially get some advice?

So I am 18 and am currently on a gap year and have applied for University courses in Primary Education.

However, although the idea of working with children has always been something i’ve been passionate about, i’m not an overly confident person. I’m pretty reserved and introverted and I’m not entirely sure how I would feel being observed as a teacher and standing in front of 30 kids.

I have worked as a teaching assistant recently and have a job in an after school club (sometimes managing over 30 kids alone) and i love the conversations and the engagement within these jobs with the children, but i feel completely daunted and the pressured when it comes to standing in front of all 30 kids and trying to get them to tidy up or do other tasks.

I much prefer the one on one tasks with the children or in smaller groups, so i can’t help but think maybe nannying would be a better career? I don’t want to waste a 3 year degree so I was wondering if i could get some advice from people in these positions or who have been a teacher or nanny (or both).

Any advice would be great!!

Thank you!!

@lucyalice18

Thank you for this advice - i’ve heard from a couple of people now that they wouldn’t particularly recommend teaching, which is a shame. Did you teach primary or secondary? And if you don’t mind me asking what other jobs do you recommend are good to look into? I love working with kids and i currently love my job at an after school club so much so are there any other jobs similar to this that you recommend?

I’m primary-have taught from reception up to Year 6. Still teaching, actually, but plotting my next step. I don’t know many teachers who aren’t desperate to escape.

I would consider speech and language therapy or OT, if I could start all over.

Nannying is a great job. Unlike, most other childcare jobs it is well paid (around £45,000 for a normal family, upwards of £60,000 if you go for a 'high profile' family). If you find the right family you can have great experiences, a lot of freedom and control and really make a difference to children's lives. You can be financially well-off, but underprivileged in other ways.

If you want to work with the financially under privileged then nannying is not for you.

I have never been a teacher so can't comment, but would recommend you ask over on the teaching board, I think it's called 'The Staff Room'.

The downsides of being a nanny are:

There is little career progression. This is great early on because you earn good money almost straight away, but not so much down the line when you're still earning the same with 20 years experience.

The hours are long.

You need to constantly look for new jobs, children grow up and don't need a nanny very quickly. No job security really. It's hard bonding with kids and then having to move on.

You're tied to being in a big city, which can mean a high cost of living.

If you end up with a bad family, it's not nice.

It can be difficult to change career because it's quite a specific skill set. It's not a job that's easy to do into your 50's or 60's so worth thinking long term.

There are lots and lots of other jobs working with children, it doesn't have to be teaching or nannying. I would go to University and do a degree in something you enjoy but that is flexible to a range of career choices. You also don't have to make the choice now. Be a nanny for a bit and then teach. Or teach and then be a nanny.

Nannying is not a career - Nannies are amazing, but it is a job. To get paid a lot you are at the beck and call of a family. It can be great when you’re young, but it’s rarely for life. And If you are bright enough to teach, you’d more than likely get bored.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I personally consider this to be absolute rubbish.

I'm a shy, introverted teacher. In social situations I'm quiet as a mouse but put me in front of my class and I'm happy as anything and full of confidence. I'm not exactly buzzing with excitement for lesson observations but it doesn't fill me with dread having people watch me.

My professional self is very different to my personal self and I see teaching as often something of an act, and one that you get more skilled at putting on the longer you're in the job. You certainly don't have to be the life and soul of a party to be the life and soul of the classroom.

Your confidence grows with time. Yes to start with it's daunting to stand in front of a class of children and you worry if they'll listen and do as they're asked. Ultimately though most children, especially younger ones, want to do the right thing and please you and you learn strategies to deal with the ones that perhaps don't.

Thank you so much - i can definitely relate to being very introverted and i’m glad to hear that it can definitely change depending on the situation.

In my current job i’m very confident around the children, but being observed or watched by another adult is a whole other story but as you say, i’m hoping that this level of confidence will just develop over time.

How long have you been teaching for? Would you say overall that you recommend it and if so what would you say has been your favourite year to teach?

@3WildOnes

Train as a teacher and do your NQT year. That will help you get the best paid nannying jobs in London and abroad. Then once you have a family and want to settle down you can go back to teaching.

Exactly this. It’s what I wish I had done. I am a nanny, degree educated but not a teacher.

When starting a family teaching will appeal as I can locate anywhere and the job fits better with having your own children.

Norland is highly recommended though.

How much do your degrees cost these days? Norland, teaching etc

Thank you! Do you enjoy Nannying? And have you had children? If so, how well does it fit around them?

I’ve heard great things about Norland but the cost did scare me off quite a bit! Usually a degree would cost £9,250 (ish) for tuition fees each year, with help from student loans of course. But, Norland costs about £14,000 a year for tuition fees and that’s not even including their super pricy uniform and additional supplies!!