Age is not a barrier, however, the job role is physically and mentally demanding. It is not just playing with children all day! Still many people think it is though and the pay is low for the responsibility you have.
Are you prepared for any of the following:
planning and carrying out early education and purposeful play based activities for the children in accordance to the learning and development requirements of The Early Years Foundation Stage.
Constantly up dating diaries either handwritten or on an app during the day regarding the children’s progress.
Be supervised and told what to do by much younger Colleagues, who may not have a great deal of experience with young children themselves
. Lots of nurseries are staffed by younger staff not long out of school/ late teens or v early twenties, some staff are amazing and others not so much in their work with children. Also be prepared to deal with older staff, who have been there a long time and may not be open to new ideas in education, again older staff may or not be brilliant with children.
Be prepared to stay over your finish time because of the ratios. The child to adult ratios need to be covered at all times and if you are over ratio or your numbers of children have not dropped you can’t leave on time.
Lots of training, many nurseries so not pay you for your time. Ditto staff meetings and monthly / six monthly open days which happen at weekends.
some nurseries are bitchy, as predominantly female workforce still with a high staff turn over are you prepared for this?
Learn the early years jargon- you will hear the following numerous times during a week.
EYFS, key person, in ratio/ out of ratio, in numbers, numbers dropped, headcount, SSshow round, pedagogy loose parts, use your words , oh dear and feet on the floor in relation. to the children.
The role is rewarding and challenging and the sector is in crisis .