Unfair to nursery nurses.

Unfair to nursery nurses.

by: Hardworkin - 05-08-04 17:16

I work in a maintained school nursery and I have worked there for nearly 6 years. In September an unqualified, with no formal childcare qualification, supposedly trainee teacher is being placed in the nursery above me. My gripe is that she has no formal qualifications and is going to be the teacher in the nursery. I wondered what others thoughts were on this matter.

by: brookes

I too would feel unhappy about the situation.I work in a school nursery and feel that quite often us mere nursery nurses could teach those higher up the payscale a thing or two.if i were you, id approach the head,explain your feelings and ask if there is anything else you could do as an extra(eg,art coordinator etc)at least then you are showing enthusiasm and its an extra on your cv.If that fails,look at training to be a senior practitioner, as that gives you unqualified teacher status.

Unfair to nursery nurses. - 16-08-04 20:27

by: Hardworkin

Thanks brookes for your reply. I am currently doing an early childhood studies degree, I am about to start my 3rd year so I am working towards getting a higher qualification. There is no point talking to the head as he is the one who is putting the 'teacher' in the class and he supports her 100% so I would be hitting my head against a brick wall with him.

Unfair to nursery nurses. - 17-08-04 11:39

by: brookes

well done with your studies.its a good idea to improve your status.im doing the senior practitioner bit and as hard as it is,im determined to finish.My head is not too bad,but its sheer luck who you end up working with.at least when you finish your degree there will be more avenues to follow.good luck.
P.s,you havent got any critisisms about circle time have you,im struggling with an assignment(thanks)

Unfair to nursery nurses. - 07-09-04 20:54

by: kimmie

i agree with you but i also think that childcare is an underpaid and also a very stressful job and it doesnt get the recognition that it deserves as we all seem to work to hard for it even though we all love the job and working with the children as well. as it seems no matter what you do you cant seem to win either way so whats the point of it all thats what i ask you? kim

Unfair to nursery nurses. - 07-09-04 20:54

by: kimmie

i agree with you but i also think that childcare is an underpaid and also a very stressful job and it doesnt get the recognition that it deserves as we all seem to work to hard for it even though we all love the job and working with the children as well. as it seems no matter what you do you cant seem to win either way so whats the point of it all thats what i ask you? kim

Unfair to nursery nurses. - 07-09-04 20:54

by: kimmie

i agree with you but i also think that childcare is an underpaid and also a very stressful job and it doesnt get the recognition that it deserves as we all seem to work to hard for it even though we all love the job and working with the children as well. as it seems no matter what you do you cant seem to win either way so whats the point of it all thats what i ask you? kim

Unfair to nursery nurses. - 25-03-05 18:30

by: rosielucas

I do feel that teachers get a rough deal sometimes. If you are a nursery nurse working in a school, part of your job is supporting the teacher. This should be your aim. If you want to be a teacher you know that you can do something about it. Advising the head that you don't think the teacher is good enough is not supportive.

Unfair to nursery nurses. - 10-04-05 21:43

by: suebie

I'm wondering whether the comment posted by rosielucas is from a teachers point of view?! I have been a nursery nurse for 18 years and have worked with lots of teachers. Some of whom have been put into the role of superviser of the early years and have not a clue about it. Our role as a professional is not to be a support to a undertrained teacher but to work as part of a knowledgable team. Nursery nurse training and teacher training are totally different. N.N's view children in a different way to teachers, a more friendly,caring way, a more mothering way. I would also say to anyone who says what's the point of making a fuss, that you need to make sure you have the support of a union behind you then make a fuss. Stand up for your rights because when it comes to Early Years you are the professional specialist. Good Luck.

Unfair to nursery nurses. - 13-04-05 10:06

by: Hardworkin

Thanks suebie' for your support. rosielucas' I have always been very supportive of all the teachers I work with, if you have read my first post on this board, the person I am working with is unqualified, with no childcare qualifications. My worries when I first posted this have transpired, and we do not work as a team, I am basically either ignored or treated as an idiot.
I am more than prepared to work as a team which I have always done.

Unfair to nursery nurses. - 14-04-05 21:39

by: CLAIRE

I have been a qualified nursery nurse for nearly 10 years now, and in that time have worked alongside 'teachers' both in schools and nurserys. I'm afraid that although lovely people, there does always seem to be a 'them and us'divide with nursery nurses usually being made to feel inferior. my friend introduced me to the saying that we (n.nurses) are mushrooms- fed on sh*t and kept in the dark!!!!!!!!!!

Unfair to nursery nurses. - 06-06-05 22:44

by: Hardworkin

I have resurrected this post to see if their are any new points of view. As I pointed out in my first ever post I had concerns about what would happen in the nursery. Due to the way I have been treated by the person I work with, I have for the first time in all my years of working, been of work with stress and anxiety. My dad died in February this year and I went back to work after two weeks and she did not even ask how I was feeling or anything. I am just treated like I have no idea how to do anything.

Unfair to nursery nurses. - 06-11-05 12:40

by: Hardworkin

Hi just wanted to say that thankfully things are looking up this september. I am working with a really lovely NQT, and once again feel part of a team. The lsa who is working with the person I was working with last year is experiencing the same problems I had, so you have to ask yourself who is the problem.

Unfair to nursery nurses. - 06-11-05 16:08

by: the-voice-of-reason

Hi Hardworkin,

Glad to see things are looking up and I hope you have completed, or nearly completed, your Early Childhood Studies degree.

I have found this an interesting message post to watch as my daughter wants to be a primary school teacher, with a specialism in Early Years. The degree she hopes to study is the Primary Teaching degree and there are two courses of entry, academic A levels or a level 3 childcare qualification (passed with the appropriate grades). She received much advice about the 'best' way to proceed when applying for college courses and her school tried to push her into academic A levels as she is very bright and gained 11 GCSEs with the majority of grades at A*, A and B.

I am glad to say she is currently studying for the BTEC in Early Years, which I feel will give her the very best start in her teaching career. She will actually learn about child development, childcare theories and, most importantly of all, real children. She is currently on placement in a primary school, working alongside a very supportive teacher in KS1 and will start in the reception unit after Easter.

Unfortunately, I know from experience that there are some (not all) teachers out there who have no experience of young children and how they learn and do not appreciate the hard work, dedication and sheer sweat that goes onto achieving a level 3 childcare qualification. Some schools still push underachieving girls and girls who don't know what they want to do after school into childcare courses as an 'easy option'. And unfortunately, nursery nurses are still seen by some other professionals as the bottom of the pile (see post from clhorne).

And as the title of the post states this is 'Unfair to nursery nurses'.

I hope from my daughter's experiences in working towards her goal, she will not fall into this trap. I for one won't let her!

Unfair to nursery nurses. - 10-11-05 15:19

by: rohan

Hi everyone! Just to say that I am a qualified teacher from Spain and I cannot find a job other than a nursery nurse as it seems that my 3 year degree in teaching (3 to 11 years old) is not "good enough" in the UK. I gained my British QTS one year ago and I have been told way so many times that I should do a Foundation degree in Early years which, to be honest, don't think it is better than my degree. My friend is doing it, she is in her second year, and so far she is very good at doing essays that is teaching her nothing about teaching. I would not like to think that some Nursery teachers are scared of Continental teachers who might have some good and fresh ideas about children and education.