What's the best way to get into early years teaching?

[Londonmamma]

I've been a stay at home mum for too long now.
I am a graduate and also trained as a mental health nurse, but don't want to return to that.
I really enjoy and am good with small children.
I would like to work in early years but do NOT want to be a reception teacher in a primary school, I would want to work in a nursery setting. What's the best route into this?

Any advice and experience appreciated!

there is a degree course in early years education that post graduates can enrol on in most (teaching)universities or if you would prefer to qualify as a nursery nurse you can do NVQ levels 1-4 at most colleges or as a day release/on the job training with some nurseries. e.g. i know Kids unlimited take on trainee staff and give you a day a week to study. you could be qualified in a year.

Do the Early Years Professional Status?

All settings need someone qualified in this way by 2015, I think.

There is also some talk of qualified teachers also having to do this qualification if they work in nursery/pre-school settings.

You can also train doing the GTP (graduate teacher programme) which means that you work (and are paid a bit less than the going rate, but still not too bad) while you are training. Very intensive, but you do get a lot of on the job training, also some places keep their GTP trainees on after they have 'graduated'. Both the PGCE and the GTP are very very intensive years. It is possible to do the PGCE part time. Once you are qualified, then you are available to work in a nursery setting - which could be private or state. This could be within a school setting (such as a nursery teacher in an Early Years Unit - although sometimes Heads want teachers to have some flexibility within their age range) or a stand-alone nursery.
Either way, the first thing that you would want to do is to volunteer some time in a nursery to a) see if you like it and b) get some experience, which is a requirement before embarking upon a PGCE.
Where abouts in London are you?

Thanks for all your answers. I'll research your suggestions xx

Jennifersofia - I'm in Islington

Oh right. Just interested because I was going to suggest a good nursery to do some volunteer work at if you were East End ways. I did my PGCE at the Institue of Education last year, if you have any questions, do post them and I will try and check in!
Best of luck.

Thanks for the advice Jennifersofia