Hate working in early years/childcare (Scotland)…

[Waterrun]

Just a sort of vent post and also asking for advice.

I’ve been qualified as an early years child educator for the past 5 years now. Used to absolutely adore my job before the increase in hours.

Due to the Scottish Government 1140 hours increase in entitlement I absolutely hate my job.

We are absolutely stuffed with children in the setting, absolutely and completely out numbered. We are taking on more and more severely autistic children and children with very profound and complex additional support needs without training or the additional staffing as they are 1:1 ratio.

We are regularly left understaffed as staff just can’t hack the extreme workload day to day. Constant staff sicknesses, long term absences and general work dodging.

Anybody else feel like this or even left early years? What did you do?

I realise this is a few months old but I wanted to reply.

I work in a nursery in Scotland too and it is exactly how you describe, the complex needs and no staff to even cover the required ratio, there is no extra support for all these needs. We spend most of our day under ratio due to short staffing. It is a horrible position to be in, the violence I have witnessed by children is extreme towards staff and other children, we all work so hard but are all struggling in my workplace.

Management are fully aware and make a half hearted attempt to support but are not doing what needs to be done.

I wonder if others experience this too?