Why do I feel so devastated about my job?

[MerryMarigold]

I know most of you are probably parents, but if there are any staff out there... Please tell me if this is normal.

Where I work, there are 2 Practitioners with 14 children, 3-4 years old. 2 of these are autistic, one more severe than the other. The more severe one bites, steals food from other children, eats everything (paint, messy play stuff etc.) and requires a lot of attention. I'm exhausted. I feel like the children aren't learning anything as it's the best I can do to keep them safe, let alone teach them. Circle times are so difficult with the autustic ones. I feel like I'm letting the children down. I'm not even sure this ratio is legal as I'm not a level 3 (the other one is level 3).

I also have to work through all my breaks (I get 20min as it's only a 5hr shift) in order to get observations, books and planning done. I bring home a lot of work and do it on my days off or evenings.

Today I found out they have been overpaying me because my 20 minute break is unpaid, so they have worked out how much I owe since September. I don't care that much about the money, nectar I'm really doing this for the love of the job. I don't need the money, I just feel really gutted that I'm working harder than I've done in my life. Please help me understand if this is normal for nursery staff and I'm just a bit of a wuss or if this is quite bad.

Parents. Be aware that this is how at least some staff are treated. I've gone into this late in life and can say I've never come across a job which is such hard work for such low post and terrible working conditions. I'm on minimum wage, which works out considerably less if you include the time I spend working unpaid.

3 key children
🤣🤣🤣

Bear in mind I am unqualified, inexperienced in EYFS, work 15 hours per week, and one of those 3 is severe special needs, requiring additional paperwork, but go ahead and gloat! (It was 4, but thankfully one left). It also depends on the amount of work required by your nursery personally per child. I'm also apparently in charge of all the literacy and numeracy .

Interesting that volunteers don't count in ratios. There's a lady who is always counted and I'm fairly sure she's a volunteer. Gonna ask that. We're frequently out of ratio anyway.

Volunteers can count in ratios. I used to be chair of our village preschool and we often used parent volunteers.

Oops sorry I always thought they weren't as that's what I was told!
I think as you're training to be a level 3 qualified staff member you should be expected to have key children but it depends how far into the course you were when you were given them and you need to be given extra support.
It does seem like you've got an unfair workload and I'd bring this up, maybe by saying you don't feel you're being supported enough to have all of this responsibility as well as working towards your qualification? It sounds like the nursery is a bit rubbish but it can't hurt to bring it up

Volunteers can count in ratio but unless the volunteer is qualified then there is a problem as the OP is unqualified and said there are 2 practitioners so the 50% minimum qualified is not being followed.

I had 4 key children before I started course. I've done 1 assignment so far so not v far into it.

You should speak to the SENCo about the child with ASD. They should be chasing funding for the 1:1 care for them.

Lots of outdoor play with help with the behaviour too. Even though it's warm as long as they're hatted and well sun creamed with their shoulders covered with access to shade they should be fine.

Why are you recording your observations in an online journal and on paper? Only the online one is needed.

With regards to circle time, maybe try it outside or if As you're saying you're talking about wood, plastic etc sit round an empty sand/water tray with objects for the children to explore?

I'm a nursery nurse and have been for 19 years (arrrrgh!)
Get that level 3 and get into a school nursery- so much better- hours wise and how you're treated.

My dd is autistic (hf) and had 1:1 or 1:2 until she was 7. Even as an adult she has a personal advisor at university. The council additional needs team who come out to nurseries need to sort out additional funds for home

Thanks for advice moonflower. The Senco is the manager! They have not, for whatever reason, got the funding yet. I think a. They waited ages to get going and b. They didn't chase enough. The mum is upset and chasing it herself now, which will hopefully mean it happens. Meanwhile, I can't help her and all the other children. I can't wait to get into a school nursery and see how it's done properly.

Stucknoue, the child who is high functioning won't get anything. Your dd was lucky.

Moonflower, we do both online and book. The excuse I've heard is that Ofsted and parents prefer books. When my kids were at school nursery I got 1 book per year maximum but they could do so much when they left. These kids have 3-4 books per year. 7 obs on each per month plus next steps, wow sheets, daily planning with 12 categories per day, a complex next steps process.

You’re in ratio but the ASD children will need IEPs and expectations for circle time may need to be thought about depending on their behaviour and abilities. Ideally your SENCo will be putting in referrals and these can take time to go through the system. Sounds like another pair of hands would be useful on the days they attend though.

It also sounds like you have a lot of planning and paperwork. This can probably be managed more effectively, there is no legal requirement for learning journeys etc although ofsted and parents will need to be shown you know the progress your key children are making. ‘Planning in the moment’ is a way to ease the planning burden and follow the children’s interests so perhaps look into this and see what you think.

Tumbleweed, thanks. The referral for one is happening and we have applied for funding, but it's taken time. We do have 'in the moment planning' which we call a WOW sheet. I've never understood it really and only done it for one child. It didn't really show progress. The WOW sheets, focus activity group sheets and planning with all the different categories are on top of the rest of the work, but I don't think the manager will take kindly to me to telling her it is too much and she needs to rethink. I am learning a lot about what is important or not though. I don't think our planning sheet is good. It could be so much more streamlined and thought through rather than so many different categories per day. I'll hopefully get some voluntary work in school nursery on my day off and maybe that will lead to a job.