Will this hold me back from a new job?

[Starberries]

I've been a nanny for 6 years, although am still relatively young (early 20's). I've mainly worked with newborn up to about age 3/4.

I'd like to eventually train as a primary/secondary teacher so am now interested in branching out and doing school age nannying for the next few years before embarking on a training course.

Will parents see my lack of experience with school agers as a negative ... or the fact I want to train to be a teacher as a positive that outweighs this?

The only exp I have with this age group is 2 summers of work with a 4 and 6 year old. Any advice welcome

Just quickly do you think you could find a job as a nanny with 1 or 2 in your age range and a schoolie? That way your core experience makes you a strong candidate and you get the experience you're looking for.

If you want to be a secondary teacher I imagine you've considered what degree you'll do and via which route. If you go for a trad university then you'll have plenty of time for a before/after school and holiday job with school aged children too which would look positive on your application. Ditto if you do a degree and then a primary PGCE.

Also try volunteering with Guides or Brownies to get more relevant experience. When I applied for my PGCE they loved it because of the experience with a large group of children, planning activities and monitoring progress etc, and because it was voluntary. Double win!

Good luck!

Hi thanks for responding. I've considered a post like what you've mentioned but would like to have a few hours while kids are at school to study from home, which wouldn't be compatible with babies and todds around.

I want the next couple of years to decide between primary/secondary as well as save up, hence looking for something full-time rather than plunging into school myself.

An agency I'm registered with said the lack of exp shouldn't be an issue as they have less nannies willing to take on school-age from the start. Many thanks for your reply frak.

Any parents who could let me know if they'd reject an applicant such as myself?

Last time I recruited a nanny I was told that most nannies wanted babies and I'd find it hard. At the time DS1 was at school FT and DS2 was at pre-school 2.5 hours a day. I would have been happy to see you! However if you were going to study during the day I don't know if I would have paid you a wage for 50 hours a week, IYSWIM.

You will know that 2.5 hours does not give you much time for studying.... Now they are both at school FT there would be plenty of time.

The other thing which occurs to me is that the boys' school is always after people to come in and help children learn to read, do cooking, or help in any way. If you were interested in primary teaching this might be a good way to get experience before your course. I am happy to pay a nanny to do this, as it is the sort of thing I would like to do myself if I were not working, and I think it benefits the children.

Thanks friday! The studying is really just a pipe dream at this point, as I don't know what I want to do for certain yet! I'd be 100% focused on the children's cooking and other nursery duties during their time at school, sewing labels, laundry, ironing, changing beds, tidying, managing diaries, sorting school kit/errands.

Interesting what you've said about the schools being interested in that. As I have a CRB in any case they might be open to this! I'd also love to help out in any charges' school during the day occasionally as well.

Thanks for your reply!

A nanny actively wanting to look after school age children and wanting to be a teacher would be a definate plus for me.

My only concern would be on whether there is enough nursery duties to keep a nanny busy for the whole school day. If you were studying during part of the day (and therefore didn't need paying!)or were prepared to do other housework this would probably clinch it.

My old nanny used to go in and help out in my children's Reception class with reading, baking and sewing.