Is it possible to just be a Reception Teacher?

[Treblebass]

Hi all

I’ve been a long-standing TA for many years now. (Although I took a break over covid and I’m currently working in another capacity) I’ve worked in early years/KS1,2,3 & 4.

Whilst I have enjoyed all year groups over the years in different schools and settings my favourite age group to work with is early years (or the year 10s/11s)

I’ve ruled out secondary school teaching as I just can’t deal with the behaviour.

Is it possible to train specifically as an early years teacher? I’m struggling to find a concrete answer. I have a degree already.

Thanks.

Yes this is possible you can do an EYITT which specialises in EYFS however it is not full QTS and you can only teach up to age 5 so it's worth being absolutely sure before you hem yourself into a small age group.

The SCITT provider I am training with does Primary 3-7 as an option which gives you QTS.

But if you have QTS you can be required to teach any year group, if you don't have QTS but have the Early Years qualification instead you will be limiting your employability. Recruiting panels may well prefer a candidate who will be able to be more flexible in future ( in my school, last year's EYFS teacher is now in Yr 4!)

Yes that’s the thing, I truly do want to limit myself to early years. Thank you for your answers, I’ll have to mull it all over.

My PGCE specialised in the 3-8 age group. In theory I could teach throughout the primary year groups but have spent my whole career with Nursery, Reception and Year 1. Early years is very different to the rest of the school and lots of teachers absolutely aren't comfortable there! It's important to have a strong understanding of child development and the way young children learn. So in my experience if you want to specialise in Reception there's a good chance of being able to stay put and develop that part of the school.

Some definitely stay a long time. One of mine is now in Y13 and the teacher who taught Reception back in 2008/9 is still there, still teaching Reception!

Once you have QTS, you can be put anywhere. Even the specifically Early Years courses generally are 3-8. Heads can put unqualified teachers in post in academies, so you really don’t have too much say anyway. You could leave, I guess, if you were moved into KS1 or 2, but remember that pay portability was scrapped a long time ago so if you’d worked your way up to eg MPS6, you wouldn’t necessarily get that at a different school. School budgets are shocking so heads like ‘cheap’.

@Howshouldibehave

Oh tell me about it. I do know of one primary UQT, who isn’t educated above GCSE level.

Academies .

@TreblebassBloody hell. Talk about undervaluing those of us who worked and got thousands in debt to be qualified!!

In answer to your question, I would say the same as others which is that once you’re in a school, head can put you anywhere they want. Maybe try for infant school jobs when it comes to it.

At my daughter's school the teachers move around a lot apart from the reception teachers who tend to stay put. In the 6 years she's been there the reception teachers have stayed the same. I think there are definitely schools that do acknowledge EYFS is a different skill set.