Nursery Owners/Managers - EYPS

[linzs]

I am a nursery owner/manager with nearly 18 years experience of working with children. I originally did my N.N.E.B and more recently (though it has been 5 years now) completed my A.D.C.E.

I am now looking at signing up to complete a degree in either Early Years or Nursery Management though this will have to be distance learning as obviously work is always full on and I also have 3 DC's.

Once this is completed I will then consider the EYPS - as obviously we are going to need one before 2015!!

Are any of you taking either of these courses (or considering it) and if so exactly how are you finding it - am more worried about workload than I am about course content if that makes any sense. If you are doing distance learning which uni are you with?

It is obviously going to be good for both myself and the nursery to get this done but tbh the fees are also putting me off (I have been quoted £8000.00 for the degree alone)

We do have an EYPS at nursery but I am at the moment unsure of how long she is going to be around as sadly we cannot afford to match the salary she would receive in some other poisitions.

[KatyMac]

You can pay for your OU course with Tesco vouchers

There is money around here (norfolk) to pay for staff to replace people studying for their degree

[linzs]

Thank you both for your replies.

Have been looking at studying with OU - have studied distance learning before when I done the ADCE and tbh didnt find it too hard.

Did ask the local early years re transformation grant but was told this had been stopped and will be replaced by an alternative soon.

Do you think the course would be difficult for someone with dyslexia - I am also trying to convince our Supervisor to do it with me but really do not want to heap it on her if it is going to be difficult - She is a fantastic supervisor and really knows her job - when she was doing her NVQ's the training providers were brilliant and a lot of the questions were done orally - Am not too sure this will be the case with the degree.

How are you both finding the EYFS?

[sparkiestfiend]

Hiya,
I completed my degree in Early Childhood Studies to become an EYP in 2001, being one of the first to qualify with it. (Can't believe it was that long ago!!) Anyway, I also own and manage my own nursery and have found most of the degree worthwhile. I generally use it everyday in work and I'm trying to convince our Manager to do it too, as I've been off for the last 9 months on maternity leave. I think she would benefit hugely from it.
I would advise you that it may be easier to do it if you were actually attending a class once a week, mine ran one evening/afternoon (from 3pm - 9pm) a week. I found it motivated me much better to have to do the work each week, mind you, that said, I didn't have a baby to worry about then! And also, everyone's learning style is different.
I did mine at Stranmillis University in Belfast.

Not sure if this helps even slightly or not! - Either way - good luck with it! xx

[nurseryvoice]

Im in my second year of early years foundation degree, with a view to top it up with an extra year honours then the EYP

I have received funding from transpormation fund graduate fund from local early years you should access this too. got around 2000 so far.
my degree seems to be costing around 600 per year so obviously a lot cheaper than your route.
yes course content is not difficult, it is time, I also work full time managing my nursery. They always seem to want to have all 3 assigmentments per term in on the same week but it can be done.
I am doing it as we also cannot possibly afford a graduate salary.

good luck