Reception class no teacher? Teachers please help!

[dreamofgenie]

Hi there. I've been given my childs place for school next year and have just found out the reception class is taught by a senior early years educator and not a teacher. There is also a nursery nurse in there and an hlta. The classes are mixed nursery and reception together.

What are the legalities of this? I've heard good things about the reception class so am only wondering why they haven't put a teacher in the class. Is it to save money? And do 5 year olds by law have to be taught by a qualified teacher?

Thanks for your help.

Is it a state school?

if it is a state school the law says there must be a qualified teacher for every 30 children as reception falls under the infant class size rule. (and yes it will be to save money)

Early years professional status is an award for people working with children under 5, that is in nurseries. Some would say it is the equivalent of a school teacher (I am sure most school teachers would disagree). What it does mean is that they may well have more experience and knowledge of developing under 5s than a newly qualified school teacher.

It is possible that this person has been a school teacher and has decided to specialise in the under 5s and therefore is calling themselves an early years professional, you need to check.

However if they are not a school teacher then the legality of the situation becomes questionable. The other thought I did have is how many of the children will be nursery and how many will be reception. If the majority of the children are nursery children it probably does not count as an infant class. But as MRZ says this could well be a way of saving money.

Thanks for your help. The school is a state school. They have only set up the nursery this year and I think there is an influx of nursery children as well as rception children. I called today and they said there would be roughly half nursery and half reception. I think the woman seems lovely and really knows he early years stuff. I just worry about her knowledge of key stage 1 and knowing how to push the older kids without being pushy iykwim. Gosh I seem terribly pushy now! I just don't want to get manhandled by the school who thinks the parets don't know anything.

There must also be a qualified teacher in nursery

The EYFS requires that, in provision for children aged three and over in maintained schools (except for children in reception classes) there must be at least one member of staff for every 13 children. At least one member of staff must a be a 'school teacher' as defined by Section 122 of the Education Act 2002 and the Education (School Teachers' Prescribed Qualifications, etc) Order 2003. One member of staff must hold a level 3 qualification. The requirement to have a teacher is not new. Since 2003, the School Teacher's Pay and Conditions Document has required headteachers to ensure that, save in exceptional circumstances, a teacher is assigned to each class or group of pupils in the foundation stage.

Yes, I agree completely with Mrz; there must be a qualified teacher if it's a state nursery. I'm not quite sure who you should tell though, if this isn't happening and the school don't seem to think it's a problem!? LEA? Ofsted!?

It is perfectly possible to be a qualified teacher and to hold Early Years Professional Status as well.

If you are concerend, the school won't mind you asking but do not assume that just because he or she is an Early Years Professional that they don't also have a degree, PGCE and QTS. I know 2 teachers who have all four.

I thought that the OP specifically stated that the person in charge wasn't a teacher though?

Thank you! The early years educator is not a teacher as well. She is a friend of a friend so I know this definitely. I'll speak to the school as soon as I can about this. Thanks again for your help.

GiddyPickle an Early Years Educator doesn't translate to EYPS IMHE it's a term more often used in private day care than schools