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Nurseries

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum. For more guidance on early years development, sign up for Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

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Original poster

nursery workers

25 replies

MuffinToptheMule · 08/09/2010 16:40

I know this is a forum for mums but there are often other people (like me) who are on here. I was wondering if there are any people who work in or used to work in a nursery? I am due to start working in a nursery soon and I have a few questions regarding training and costs.

TIA

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

SecretSlattern · 08/09/2010 16:43

There's loads of us on here who work/have worked in nurseries/pre-schools.

Ask away, someone will be able to help!

juneybean · 08/09/2010 16:45

Just finished managing a nursery in July :)

Original poster

MuffinToptheMule · 08/09/2010 16:50

Thanks for your quick replies. I just got my contract through for my new job, although I haven't signed it yet. The role includes working towards a qualification. The qualification is an SVQ. It says in my contract that if I leave this nursery within 2 years of completing the qualification then I will be liable to pay the costs for it. Is this normal? The qualification isn't optional. I have to do it.

OP posts:

juneybean · 08/09/2010 16:55

It's not unreasonable of them as they are training you up (I'm assuming you're otherwise unqualified to work in a nursery?)

But in my experience when girls have done NVQs unless they have been brilliant the nursery has gotten rid of them, therefore only keeping them whilst they're "cheap labour" :/

Original poster

MuffinToptheMule · 08/09/2010 16:58

I guess it's not unreasonable and no I don't have qualifications to work in a nursery. I am finding it difficult to get them to tell me how much the training will cost. I think if I may be liable in the future to pay something then it's fair to tell me how much it is.

OP posts:

juneybean · 08/09/2010 17:04

I think they should tell you how much it will be before you agree to anything. I'm not entirely sure how much it costs as when I've dealt with it, it's always been funded and we would just pay wages for the woman doing the training :)

I would just ask if they could change your contract to stipulate the rate of which the training would be deducted if you were to leave.

nurseryvoice · 08/09/2010 19:16

Why dont you ring the college and ask???????

Childcare courses are actually free!!!!!!!!!

where are you from? YOU need to clarify with your local authority what funding is available.

Its usually around 80% with you having to pay the other 20% (I pay this 20% for my employees, with the understanding they will pay this back if they leave within 6 months ) although i do only take on qualified now.

Bonkerz · 08/09/2010 19:23

i think you will find that the qualification will be funded by the local council BUT only a certain amount of staff are able to be trained at one time so if you agree to do the qualification you will effectively be taking up a space that someone else could use. It sounds to me like the nursery just want to be sure you are not just hopping on for the ride and are looking at a long term career with them (well 2 years atleast) because staff turnover is a big thing for nurseries as it looks bad if they have lots of new staff start and leave!

TiggyD · 08/09/2010 19:48

I'm on mumsnet and I'm a nursery worker. I don't even have children. Can't stand the little buggers.

The nursery might say they will want the costs back, but will they actually go through all the effort of getting them? A nursery suing an 18(?)year old earning less than £14.000 is always going to look bad for the nursery. Are they going to want to keep somebody working for them that really wants to be somewhere else?

Original poster

MuffinToptheMule · 08/09/2010 20:14

Thanks for all your replies,

I don't want to give out too much information in case I can be identified.

nurseryvoice - it's not related to any college. It's done through the nursery. They have their own training branch. The people I spoke to said they are not free if you are over 19 as there is no government funding. I don't think it has anything to do with my local authority.

Bonkerz - I understand that and it makes sense. If they are going to pay for the training then they need to see a return on it.

TiggyD - I'm not 18. Add about 6 years on to that.

I guess I should phone them again and get that point clarified.

OP posts:

TiggyD · 08/09/2010 20:27

You type younger.

minxofmancunia · 08/09/2010 20:30

TiggyD i assume you're being sarcastic?? Because if you really "can't stand the little buggers" I suggest you f**k off and get a job elsewhere!!

My 2 dcs are in nursery, a v good one, I just hope you're not one of the staff, I don't want my cash going to someone with that attitude.

Original poster

MuffinToptheMule · 08/09/2010 20:39

Not sure if the 'type younger' comment is supposed to be offensive. I'll take it as a joke since you put a .

OP posts:

TiggyD · 08/09/2010 20:48

Most of the NVQ students I've worked with are school leavers. Quite a few left just after qualifying (My old nursery had the same rule) but nothing was ever done about them. The nursery was concerned that the ex-staff member would bad-mouth them if they did.

No muffy, I never try to be offensive. I'm not that type of chap.

Original poster

MuffinToptheMule · 08/09/2010 21:16

Ok. Thanks. I'm a university leaver, not school leaver. Looking forward to my new job.

OP posts:

TiggyD · 08/09/2010 21:30

'Outdoor' type trousers are a good idea. They dry quick, often have reinforced knees, and have lots of pockets. I have clean tissues and gloves in my right leg, rubbish in my left leg, leaving the top zip ones for keys.

Never close your eyes if you pretend to be asleep.

Always be aware of what children are doing at the scissor table.

Pens are worth their weight in gold. Make sure you keep yours with you. You do not lend pens!

Original poster

MuffinToptheMule · 08/09/2010 22:02

I will follow your rules

OP posts:

juneybean · 09/09/2010 00:29

nurseryvoice i don't believe that all child care courses are free actually, so not sure why you say that like it's obvious. I had to pay for my own because of my age and because I already had a level 3 qualification.

I think it's fair enough to ask your nursery how much it'll cost :)

nurseryvoice · 09/09/2010 19:19

Sorry I thought it was obvious that courses were free? Our authority have been throwing money at people to train.
Also thought the muffin was young so should get training paid for.

We had an older employee do her nvq , though theyve stopped now and she got funded.

mumof2point5 · 09/09/2010 19:41

an nvq level 2 probably works out at about £1000 if having to pay for it yourself and no funding available. About £1300 for the level 3.

Muffintop if you are in scotland (SVQ?) the nvq is about to change and it might be worthwhile asking about doing the "new" qualification

they should defo be able to tell you what amount of money you may be expected to pay back - not unreasonable at all to find out

it will also probably take you about 9 months to get the qualification, so might be worth while finding out when the "2 years" starts.

also find out does your pay increase once you are qualified

good luck with the course :)

Mummy2Bookie · 09/09/2010 20:18

I did an nvq in 2008 in yorkshire (long before dd and a move down south) I didn't have to pay for it and left that nursery just before I finished. I think it took about 6 months to complete.

If you are very unsure about the terms in your contract regarding your study, could you do your qualification at another setting?

Original poster

MuffinToptheMule · 09/09/2010 21:11

No, there's not an option to do it at another setting. I should have written on my OP that it is SVQ Level 4. I think this may more expensive?

OP posts:

mumof2point5 · 09/09/2010 21:31

hi muffin

level 4 is about £1500!

HTH

Original poster

MuffinToptheMule · 09/09/2010 21:45

oh god, that's a lot of money. Do you know how long it takes to do?

OP posts:

mumof2point5 · 10/09/2010 05:23

it will really depend on your experience. Someone who has been doing the job and knows it well, could do it in about 4 months (this would probably be quickest time, assuming no other commitments :) ).

if you need time to learn the job and get experience and build up your knowledge, you would probably be looking at about 1 year

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