Should I do an apprenticeship in the Early Years sector?

[CanIHaveChocolatePlease]

Hi,

I am currently in 1st year of uni in Ireland and am studying Early Childhood Care and Education. Unfortunately, I hate the academic side of the course and uni life in general so think I will leave uni at or before the end of first year.

I love working with children so was thinking of doing an apprenticeship in the early years sector instead (even if it would be a backwards step from where I am now in terms of level) so was wondering if I should do an apprenticeship in the early years sector in the UK and if so what type of one should I do? (I’ve see variations in the names of them so am a bit confused and would like to know what would be the best one to do!)

Ideally I’d like to be a pre-school teacher (rather than a nursery assistant, but would be happy with either). And I think I have the necessary grades in my GCSE and A-Level equivalents so should be able to do a Level 3/Advanced one rather than a Level 2/Intermediate one .

Thanks in advance!

You can’t be a qualified teacher without a degree.

That pathway into teaching you have provided is in two parts.

First-a straight to teaching preparation course. You would do this and then either go onto the second part OR if you already have a few years working as an unqualified teacher (with a degree), you might be able to skip the first part and go straight to the second.

Second-the assessment only part which needs a degree.

What career advice have you had?

It sounds like you are clutching at straws trying to become a teacher any way you can without having to get a degree?

Ya that is kinda true tbh- I want to work with kids but hate the academic route I seem to have to take to get there

You can still work with kids without being a teacher though!

That’s the main thing really-I do want to work with kids and ideally it would be in a teaching way but am happy to work with them in other ways, even if that means that ultimately the career and pay prospects aren’t as good, so that’s why I asked about doing apprenticeships in the sector