Moving from KS2 to EYFS

[PrincessSlayer]

Hello, just wondering if anyone can give me some advice about changing age groups.

I'm an NQT currently teaching lower KS2 and know that in future I would want to move to teaching EYFS. I like my class but am really fascinated by the child development aspects of teaching the younger ones and feel like I would get more out of the job - I have been thinking this since part way through my PGCE but I was on a KS2 focused course so couldn't change.

I wanted to ask, what would people recommend to help me on my way to making the move in future (hopefully September)? Should I start spending some of my PPA helping in KS1 classes? Are there any courses I should look at?

Thank you in advance for any advice, would love to hear if anyone has made a similar move.

Are you currently full time? Many private daycare settings are open in the holidays. You can ask to spend some time in their 3-4 yr old room. This will give you a good idea of nursery/pre school expectations within a school.

At my school we do a key stage swap day once a year when all teachers spend a day in another key stage to get a better understanding of that age group. Could you see whether your SLT would let you do something similar. Perhaps there's someone in your foundation stage who is interested in finding out more about KS2?

You may have to take a long journey down to eyfs. For example, a year or two in year three then year one then eyfs . It is unusual to make such a big jump in one go as you'll effectively need retraining from scratch.

Thanks for asking the question OP. I too was wondering this - Id always wanted to work in EYFS or KS1 but on my pgce I was in Y4,5 & one placemebt in y2 (thankfully)
Now im an NQT in year 5 - don't see myself ever getting back down to the younger ones though ??
I used to work in a private day nursery and absolutely loved it!

I am a secondary supply teacher, but there is so much demand for primary (all years) that I could do it every day several times over, even tho I have no training at all in it. You could sign up for supply and just stipulate that you want EY bookings, and would probably very soon afterwards be snapped up by one of your supply booking schools.

Thanks so much for all the advice - will definitely look into private nurseries. Will look into supply too, there's a possibility I will leave my current school at Easter if things don't improve (bit of a bullying situation going on) so would possibly be looking into supply work then. I am content to make it a longer term aim and work slowly towards it!