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Nurseries

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Original poster

Room leader with level 2?

17 replies

GiraffeLaSophie · 28/08/2023 16:00

Would you be happy with a nursery room leader (under 2/baby room, if it’s relevant) only having a level 2 qualification, and only having recently passed that?

I assumed that a room leader would need at least a level 3, but looking online it seems that I am wrong. If I’m honest it’s more the lack of experience that’s niggling at me than the qualification, but I don’t know if I’m being unreasonable or not. Person in question is young, so I don’t think they can have lots of experience as an unqualified practitioner.

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Happyandyoudontknowit · 29/08/2023 20:14

I personally wouldn’t hire a room leader lower than a level 3, level 2 is too basic imo and I’d be worried about lack of experience. I was shocked to hear this was allowed

caban · 29/08/2023 20:15

Nurseries have to take whoever they can get these days.

unvillage · 29/08/2023 20:19

Are you a parent or working in the room with a higher qualification? Perhaps none of their other practitioners wanted the role? I'm qualified above level 3 and wouldn't take a baby room room leader job. Awful pay, so much pressure, so much stress. Nurseries are struggling to find staff for that reason.

Give her a chance honestly. And "young" can mean lots of things - she could be 21 and been working with babies since she was 16. Don't judge too hard!

Rosebel · 29/08/2023 23:07

This wouldn't happen where I work. Level 2 can only work for 30 minutes before a level 3 also has to be in the room (I'm not sure if that a requirement or just what my nursery insist on).
I don't see how you can be a room leader with that sort of constraint. It's as others have said though. Awful pay, too much paperwork, too little appreciation, too much pressure. I suspect this worker was the only one who was willing to take the job.
My work keep pushing me to apply for a senior role but for a £1 more an hour it's just not worth it.

caban · 29/08/2023 23:48

You need a level 3 member or staff in the room but that doesn't stop the room leader being level 2.

Original poster

GiraffeLaSophie · 30/08/2023 07:19

unvillage · 29/08/2023 20:19

Give her a chance honestly. And "young" can mean lots of things - she could be 21 and been working with babies since she was 16. Don't judge too hard!

I’m a parent, sorry, I didn’t make that clear!

I’m not judging her at all- if I am judging, it’s the nursery for potentially putting that on someone who isn’t experience/qualified enough for the job.

OP posts:

caban · 30/08/2023 09:30

You'd be cross if the nursery closed rooms due to not having the legal minimum number of staff either. They've managed to find some who is qualified, has some experience and a clean DBS so that should be good enough.

JenniferBarkley · 30/08/2023 09:46

I would be more concerned about experienceb and attitude than qualifications. Speak to the manager about your concerns. Do you know how old she is? She may well look very young but be in her 20s with several years under her belt.

Tumbleweed101 · 30/08/2023 11:04

Some of our best practitioners have been fairly young. It's a 1:3 ratio so she is very unlikely to be alone without L3 staff. Room leader just means she is probably taking charge of a lot of the organising and she may well be the only one able to do full time hours and keep things consistent right now if other staff have young children of their own or other constraints. Some very experienced staff just haven't got around to doing training or have other relevant qualifications. The only thing that seens odd to me is she did a L2 rather than going straight to L3.

As others have said though, finding L3 qualified staff is very difficult as many are moving to other roles as the pay and conditions aren't great for the level of professionalism and training expected. Many nurseries are only able to offer a few pence more than for unqualified staff which isn't very motivating for the amount of training L3 staff do.

NurseryNurse10 · 04/09/2023 13:15

It's not ideal but I gather she is probably training for her L3 so that's how they have got around it.
She will as the others have said, have to work with a L3 even if she herself is considered the room leader.

JennyWI · 07/09/2023 19:50

depends! if the person has lots of experience and seems knowledgeable Id let it go. Ive met some teachers with very little training who are great and some with loads of experience who suck!

Jewelanemone · 07/09/2023 19:54

I work in a nursery (admin role) and for us it would be at least Level 3, with several years experience.

AuntMarch · 07/09/2023 19:57

I dint think it sounds great but as pp have said, it's impossible to recruit at the moment.
Are other staff in the room full time? I could see it happening if there are part time level 3s, so she's the only consistent one for example.

NurseryNurse10 · 07/09/2023 22:17

In one of the nurseries I work in, the room managers are not even full time. One works afternoons only and the other term time. It's a job nobody wants to commit to and I don't blame them.
I actually do think the recruitment side is getting better though. I work agency and its been really quiet lately. More qualified staff seem to be getting back into nursery work. Don't know if it's area dependent but it's what I have found of late.....

UsingChangeofName · 07/09/2023 23:18

All the Nurseries in our authority are DESPARATE for staff.
Many have had to take on staff without any qualifications.
Plenty are having to shut rooms to stay within ration. Almost all staff who were previously out of ratio are having to cover in rooms.

Is it what we should be aiming for, to look after our dc ? No, of course not.
Is it the reality of life in most Nurseries ? Yes.

UsingChangeofName · 07/09/2023 23:22

Oops.... *desperate

sezzer87 · 07/09/2023 23:43

My MIL is a level 3 and she used to leave babies in buggies for 6 hours a day and eat the food from their lunchbox.
I don't care if you're a level 3000 you won't look after my baby until I know the full depths of your soul.

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