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Original poster

hiring experienced people pleaase!

11 replies

primarynoodle · 02/10/2014 16:02

I'm in my final year of B ed and have only done block placements in reception so far.. not ideal but nothing I can do about that now!

I have been offered my final placement in reception, I really think this would be massive career suicide when I start applying for NQT jobs with mainly just eyfs experience.

I want to teach ks1 ideally but most schools employ teachers with the understanding that they can be moved from eyfs to y6 so...

should I stick to my guns and demand suggest I should be given a placement in ks1/2? or would this not bother you when hiring an NQT (suspect I already know the answer).

OP posts:
FabulousFudge · 02/10/2014 18:01

If I were you, I would demand to have a KS1 placement.

BackforGood · 02/10/2014 18:04

I would ask for a KS2 placement.
It was policy when I did my B.Ed back in the dark ages to do at least one placement in Infants, one in Juniors, and then aim for students to be given their choice in the 3rd year. A good policy it was too.

MsHerodotus · 02/10/2014 18:18

Please do insist. I was too timid during my training to insist - assuming there was a master plan looking after my career - not so - and those who push for it get appropriate placements, those who are nice and accommodating get shat on may be accidentally overlooked.

Original poster
primarynoodle · 02/10/2014 19:51

my uni is horrific for doing as asked/being accomodating!!

how do heads feel about students getting in touch and asking for placements? a few receptionists I have rang have been less then polite at asking to speak to someone about potential placements... Sad

OP posts:
toomuchicecream · 02/10/2014 21:08

Why not email schools then? I agree with all of the above - do your best to get something different because 3 placements in Reception is completely crap! Did your previous placements go well? Are you in contact with anyone at either of those schools who you could ask to get you into KS1? Far less damaging to do 2 placements at 1 school that all three in the same year group.

Having said all that, round here there is a shortage of reception teachers. Actually, there's a shortage of all teachers. But reception is so specialist and completely different from years 2-6 and fairly different to year 1, that there aren't many people around who've got the level of experience you've got already!

FabulousFudge · 02/10/2014 21:48

I agree that because EYFS is so different, you need to experience KS1 or KS2 to see how you feel about teaching them before you start applying for jobs. I think I'd be fine to have just EYFS and KS1 experience (I did.) It's still 2 key stages. They kept putting me in Y2 in the same half term, so I kept doing the same QCA units of work!

Original poster
primarynoodle · 02/10/2014 22:24

have had experience teaching in y3 and y2 but only for 2 weeks each at the start of my first year... all assessments etc have been in reception

do schools not mind if you ask them directly then?

OP posts:
FabulousFudge · 02/10/2014 22:29

I'm not sure about that. Do you have any contacts who work in schools? I know of some students recently who have had to organise their own placement due to a shortage of places.

toomuchicecream · 03/10/2014 07:00

Depends on the school to be honest. All they can do is say no. Twice I've had students who've approached me/the school direct. The first was my TAs next door neighbour who had been placed in a school miles away. The second was someone who'd done pre-PGCE experience with us (he emailed loads of schools on spec offering to volunteer - I was desperate for help at the time so said yes) then after he started course uni screwed up placement so he emailed school to ask if he could do a placement with us. I think it will be a bit hit and miss to be honest - your email has got to end up with someone who has the time to read it and then has a teacher competent to mentor who doesn't already have a student coming. But as I said before, the worst they can do is say no/not reply.

So why don't you sit down with a map and work out all the schools you could feasibly get to, then go to each of their websites (contact details more likely to be correct than relying on a central list from the web) to get name of HT. Then send all a brief email with your selling points and what you're looking for. Draw on any contact you have, however tenuous. And if you're away from home at uni, consider doing the same with schools near your parents, especially if it is an area with no nearby unis. Schools near universities get inundated with requests. Ones further away don't! Good luck.

Original poster
primarynoodle · 03/10/2014 13:31

I have my little map with contacts already! just debating whether or not to do it but I think I will... silly question but address it to the head?

Unfortunately schools near parents won't work as I live with dp and dont think he would be too happy about me upping sticks and moving 3 hours south for a few months!! Blush

thankyoy all for your replies.. I thought I was being sensible to dig my heels in about this and glad you all agree

OP posts:
toomuchicecream · 03/10/2014 20:38

Yes address it to the head. Good luck

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