Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

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.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Have you left a nursery job too??

66 replies

Nanny31 · 04/05/2023 21:06

Hi !

Long story short I quit my nursery job. JUST!
Have you ? And why!?

P.s best thing I've ever done!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

MissyB1 · 04/05/2023 21:13

Yes I did last year. I’m a teaching assistant in a primary school now.

AuntMarch · 04/05/2023 21:32

I too went from day nursery to school, and now in a preschool. I didn't realise how toxic my first childcare work place was until I went elsewhere!

But if you mean left childcare entirely, I can't imagine doing anything else! I'd childmind if I had the space though

Whereisthesun99 · 04/05/2023 22:00

Not a nursery but I left childminding and now work for LA, I will never return to childcare . I love my life and job now

Sunnysunbun · 04/05/2023 22:04

Good for you. It's such a hard job. Parents pay so much and the pay and pressure is appalling.

Oneglassisnotenough · 04/05/2023 22:09

They pay their staff peanuts but charge a small fortune to parents for the privilege. It’s disgusting. Childcare fees are a joke.

I am an ex Nursery Manager btw. Wouldn’t step foot into a Nursery again as staff if you paid me.

Original poster

Nanny31 · 05/05/2023 08:08

Thank you ALL for responses!
Feeling a bit low today, BUT a little stronger knowing that I'm not the only one who has had a change of heart .... and YES sees many faults within a nursery environment. (I have to add - the amount of young staff members constantly school ground gossiping! And not focusing on the children!)
So much work expected etc and yes very low pay.....

Anyway, on with the show :-)

again THANK YOU

OP posts:

Marellaspirit · 05/05/2023 22:19

I gave up childminding after 10 years as a combination of the aftereffects of the pandemic and being increasingly unable to make ends meet with 30 hours funding meant I was at breaking point.

I took a short contract in a school working in the preschool with 2 year old funded children which I enjoyed but didn't like the inflexibility of term time only working (I don't have kids) and also couldn't be done with the politics in this particular school.

I went on to work in a day nursery which I can only describe as sheer hell. Permanently understaffed, over half the staff were apprentices, and they never covered sickness or holidays. The owners were stuck in the dark ages in terms or practice and there was no money for basic resources. I loved the staff I worked with but it really wasn't worth the stress for minimum wage (nursery nurses like me earned the same as unqualified staff over 25 years old).

I left after 3 months as I moved out of the area but to be honest I wouldn't have lasted much longer! I no longer work in childcare and I don't miss it. It would take a very special role to tempt me back!

Whatt · 05/05/2023 22:21

I left a nursery and went to agency work.

There are some good nurseries out there but some soul destroying ones too.

NurseryNurse10 · 07/05/2023 12:58

I used to nanny but had my confidence knocked badly and also don't drive so been doing nursery supply work. I really dislike it. Long, long hours, being spoken down to even though I am more qualified and experienced than most of them, the boredom of the same old routine and being stuck indoors for so long, constantly being moved from room to room as they don't have anyone with my qualification in there.
I'm desperate to get out of it. I'm always shocked when people say they enjoy full time nursery work. A lot of the time it just feels like crowd control and is unbelievably stressful.

TheChippendenSpook · 07/05/2023 13:59

I left four years ago and don't regret it at all.

Original poster

Nanny31 · 07/05/2023 20:05

I feel for you! Hope things will get better. So so true to all that has been said.

OP posts:

Charliebong · 07/05/2023 20:12

I left my nursery role two years ago…hated it.

Now work as a TA in a secondary school and its so much better. I’d never go back to nursery, never.

NurseryNurse10 · 07/05/2023 21:52

Sad thing is, my confidence has been so sapped and I feel like a different person to the one I was before which is really sad. I know that sounds quite dramatic but it's true.

notamumyet2010 · 10/05/2023 21:48

Yes I left Nursery work last summer (managing) and it was the best thing I’ve ever done. It was heart breaking at the time but I just couldn’t carry on feeling so stressed, lonely and expectations were just unrealistic. I feel so sorry for staff who are trying to manage at the moment. As far as I know most nurseries are so understaffed and qualified experienced staff are just not applying.
I am now working at a family centre and it’s very different but much more flexible and certainly offers a better home/work balance.

LovelyNanny26 · 20/05/2023 07:16

I'm actually going back with my daughter next September.I'm not doing this for money either.I just want something different from being a nanny all my life (don't like it anymore).I have also obtained a BA in Childhood and Youth studies from the OU so hopefully I can use my knowledge and experience to enhance someone's practice.

Original poster

Nanny31 · 20/05/2023 10:57

@LovelyNanny26 That's Amazing! Good luck.

OP posts:

Amdecre · 20/05/2023 11:05

So many staff are leaving my children's nursery. They're doing various things like NHS admin, nursing degrees, office work. Every single one has said it just comes down to the money. I don't understand why we pay people less to look after our small children than we do to run the bin lorry etc.

Original poster

Nanny31 · 20/05/2023 14:41

@Amdecre So true! Nursery staff get Pittance. It would be great to hear success stories but I doubt that very much!

OP posts:

NurseryNurse10 · 20/05/2023 14:50

Not just about the money but also-
Ridiculously long hours. Think 7.30AM-6.30 PM shifts.
Pure stress and chaos.
More special needs kids than ever which is exhausting to deal with alongside the other kids.
Major pressure on qualified staff who are holding up the nursery and end up running across different rooms just to meet the legal requirements.
The physical and mental demands are enormous.
I'm always in awe of some of the full time nursery workers I come across. I honestly do not know how they do it, day in, day out. I'm only agency amd that's tough enough. Can see why staff are leaving in droves.

Original poster

Nanny31 · 20/05/2023 17:56

@NurseryNurse10 This is Spot on! All what you have mentioned is what I experienced. Sometimes you just have to say NO!

OP posts:

NurseryNurse10 · 20/05/2023 18:08

Exactly. People say it is a rewarding job and yes it can be at times. But when it's 5.30PM and you are totally exhausted, still got an hour of work left, lots of kids in, cleaning etc all to be completed then the warm and fuzzy feeling doesn't last very long let me tell you.

Original poster

Nanny31 · 20/05/2023 21:22

@NurseryNurse10 bless you! Yes, good point, the cleaning part! I couldn't believe it when not only did the shift finish you then had to be a cleaner...

Rewarding yes, like you say at some times. I felt sad to leave the children in the end.

Well I hope things improve for you.

Best of luck !

OP posts:

Original poster

Nanny31 · 20/05/2023 21:25

Could I ask , what was the course like?

OP posts:

student26 · 20/05/2023 21:40

Low pay, long hours. Was told I was getting 18 hours (only wanted part-time), constantly put on 24+ and looked at in a funny way when I said I couldn’t do it. Random after work meetings and training. Expected to
go in on your days off for half hour meetings. Random rotas. Almost all apprentices and very young staff. I couldn’t stick it. Got the sickness bug after being there for only two weeks as parents sending their kids in sick constantly. I’ve now got a permanent job elsewhere, thankfully.

NurseryNurse10 · 20/05/2023 22:51

You mean the childcare course?
I did it many years ago now but it was very intense. I had to go and work placements in nurseries, schools, health centres and family homes . Lots of observations and activity planning. Essays and the like too.
What I dont get now is that a lot of my colleagues are training on the job and so getting their qualification that way but as far as I know, they don't have to work with the different age groups or go to different placements yet they end up just as qualified as me. Don't see how that is fair....

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread