Pay negotiation... wwyd?

[Hidethecrisps]

If you were a nursery teacher in an independent primary school would you expect to be paid on mps? All other responsibilities the same eg. staff meetings, doing a club etc. I’m not paid on scale (even though qualified to PGCE primary level) but just wondering if this is the norm and can I negotiate? It’s really starting to grate I’m paid less than reception teacher with less experience than me who does a very similar job! Thanks for advice!

I probably wouldn't...but then I know little about primary - I'm secondary.

I only say this because when my own DC were in (state) primary the reception teacher was a fully qualified teacher with degree and PGCE and several years experience. The nursery teacher was a friend of mine with NVQ3 in Childcare (or something like that).

It didn't occur to me that the nursery teacher would or should be a teacher on MPS as the children were aged 3/4 and were doing 'nursery' activities. I would, however, expect the teacher to be qualified once they hit reception and are beginning to learn to read and write.

Hoping that doesn't sound rude. Also, I think if you've taken a job that is not paid as a teacher on MPS it is difficult to then push for it - lots of qualified teachers are doing cover supervisor jobs for less than MPS.

Absolutely!! But really you needed to negotiate this at the start... The nursery teacher at my school is paid on the same scale as every other teacher, ridiculous not to be.

You're a qualified teacher in a teaching position with class responsibility? If your setting was in a mainstream school, would you think that you would be working with the 1:13 rather than 1:8 ratios? Then there's no excuse for you not to be paid properly.

It's really insulting that people still have the view that EYFS teachers are just playing (no offence PP, it's a common view but so so inaccurate). Early years teaching is a hard job, it requires a lot of skill to be a good EY teacher.

bless Also sounds like your friend isn't a teacher if she's only NVQ qualified. Therefore she's only allowed to be work in a room with a ratio of 1:8. A qualified teacher can teach with a ratio of 1:13. It doesn't sound like your example was a nursery class in a school setting like the OP.

You should be paid as a teacher. I've taught Nursery, Reception and KS2. Although EYFS is play based, it's all purposeful and well planned just as a main school class. SLT often have no understanding of nursery and how it works but to pay you a lesser wage when you are a qualified teacher is disgusting.

Absolutely you should be paid as a teacher. Our nursery teacher had this and she had to fight for a pay rise to make her equal to the reception teacher. The nursery teacher was actually better qualified at the time.
As PP have said, EYFS teaching is hard work - I personally think you deserve more!

You definitely should be! In a mainstream school you would be. I'm not sure how unions work in independent schools- do you think they could support you?

I am a nursery teacher in a school nursery. I'm paid UPS. Just because I'm in nursery doesn't mean I have an easy ride!

I’m a nursery teacher on the leadership scale.....! A qualified teacher in a maintained nursery class is paid as a teacher.