Has Anyone Progressed From Nursery Assistant to Supervisor?

[Evenstar]

I have recently completed my NVQ3 and have many years of experience of working with children and have raised 3 of my own! I also have a degree in a non-related subject. I have seen an advert in our local paper for a full time pre-school supervisor, they are looking for someone with Level 3 and who would be willing to train to degree level and also undertake Forest School training.

It looks like my dream job, but so much work and also I am unsure if it is too big a jump from my current role, though I am relied on very much in my current settings and encouraged to make suggestions and take responsibilities above my position.

I would be interested to hear from people running a pre-school as to whether I would be considered for this role and also from anyone who has made this jump up, was it successful or a mistake in hindsight? The other concern I have is according to their website the deputy has been in post for 6 years and has the Forest School training, are they only advertising the job because they have to or because she doesn't want it, and why would that be?

How recently did you qualify with level 3?

About a month ago, my assessor said I would have had a distinction if they were awarded on NVQ's and I completed it a month early despite moving house and I am a single parent with two of my three children living at home so have had plenty of other things to cope with. I have been working at the same setting which has just been awarded outstanding for nearly 3 years, and just started at another one about a month ago, I had two job offers within a week of completing my Level 3.

you should really research forest schools training because having gone through this myself and set up a forest school it takes a huge time commitment as well as taking on your first supervisor position you may very well feel very overwelmed very quickly

Also undertaking a degree is a another huge project which takes up a lot of time (at least 2 years) as well as time out to university and it would be highly impractical to do a degree and forest schools at the same time

In my opinion as a nursery manager you would not have enough experience to get the job and unless very few people go for this job i do not see it going in your favour even as you say finishing your nvq a month early is not unusual anymore as 2 years to do a nvq is a long time and many nursery professionals are finishing the level 3 in well under a year now

Sorry that was in under a year, 11 months. As I am a graduate I do know what a commitment a degree is and I was under the impression that I could achieve Early Years Professional Status via a fast track route with an existing degree. I do understand what you are saying about it being a lot to take on though and realise it would be very hard. Thanks for your reply, I am really trying to get some perspective on whether it is even worth applying and your comments are helpful. The wording in the advertisement leads me to think that I wouldn't have to do the Forest School training immediately, as the Deputy Supervisor is trained

At the moment there is a lot of talk about the eyp as the goverment may not recognise it and it may be stopped as the funding maybe cut and they have cut the higher graduate leader fund
It is the same for the early years degrees but these have a higher chance of staying

As for the forest schools every staff member who takes part should be trained and as you said she may not want to do it or they have to advertise because they have to so you would need to undertake forest schools training before you could take over forest schools
Also for forest schools are you a outdoors person would you feel comfortable lighting fires with children,climbing trees, building shelters, using knifes to carve wood, spending large portions of the week in a forest? being responsable for the risk assesments? undertaking health and saftey training?

I grew up in the country so am very comfortable outdoors, and in Wales so am used to getting wet. In my current settings I am always the one who does the mini beast hunts and gets in the dirt, both the current settings have just a small garden and indeed the day nursery is astro turfed so I have taken in my own mini beasts! I would like the opportunity to do Forest Schools, I believe that small children should spend a lot of time outdoors and am saddened at the nursery that they are not even facilitating free flow between the garden and the room. I am not actually clear on whether it is an Early Years degree or EYPS that they are wanting the applicant to train for as they haven't stated that in the fairly brief advert. Thanks for that advice as if there is a chance EYPS will not be worth having I wouldn't want to waste my time doing it. I do appreciate you taking the time to reply.

Meant to add on the Forest Schools aspect that according to their website they are currently only offering two sessions a week.

The forest school would not be in the garden it would be in a woodland/forest area away from the nursery but as you say you are comfortable with this it should not be a problem and two sessions can be 2 days or two mornings/afternoons depending on how far the woodland is from the setting

Hope i did not seem rude and like i was trying to advise you not to apply i just wanted you to know that it will be hard work and more than likely given to a applicant with previous supervisory experience due to the added nature of the forest schools aspect

Good Luck

Sounds amazing, go for it. I have only recently completed my nvq lev3 but have worked with children for years. It sounds like a lovely job and right up my street.

You have proved to yourself that you can study and you already know what its like to do a degree.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Thank you both, I have decided to apply, the woodland is actually on site the setting is in the grounds of an infant school. I feel nothing ventured nothing gained and they can only say no! I am more than happy to do all and any training they want me to undertake to fulfil any part of the role. Thanks for the advice.