by: sharna - 11-04-07 20:52
I have just finished my BTEC & got my first job in an independent pre-school with my wage at 6.38 ph which will increse annually due to experience. I work 32 hours a week and only during term time with 4 weeks paid holiday and still earn more than my college mates who works 40 hours a week in a private nursery all year round.
By the sounds of it, I'm extrememly lucky!!
by: nannynic
I am a NNEB nursery nurse who is working in a school nursery but am only being paid as a General Teaching Assistant. I am on a supply contract for 2 terms which means I only get paid for the hours I work (no sickness, holidays etc). The Head always states to visitors etc that I am a qualified NNEB though! We are only open mornings and have 39 children in a session. We have 3 staff, one Nursery teacher and 2 GTA's. I get £6.02 an hour for this with no overtime if I need to stay on and do displays etc which are expected to be done in class time.
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 26-04-07 10:19by: Happygirl
I am a nursery owner and I do feel bad that I can only pay what are relatively low wages. However, I am not a greedy employer, and I think you will find most small nursery owners aren't either. In fact in the last 3 years since owning the nursery I have taken home less than my lowest paid employee. I actually have to work in an office to supplement my wages part of the week.
The cost of running a nursery is huge. I understand that it looks like we bring in shed loads of money, but by the time I have paid out staff wages, rent, rates, tax, part funded those children who only do 5 x 2.5 hour sessions (which means we run at a loss in the pre-school room), resources etc., etc., the profit is very small indeed.
I know my staff work hard and care for the children, but if you think it is easy running a nursery you would be wrong. The amount of paperwork that has to be kept up to date, meetings with Ofsted, Early Years Workers, dealing with staffing issues, the stress of ensuring we get enough children coming through the door and they and their parents are always happy. Plus one of our biggest problems is those parents who give you a sob story and then leave owing you money.
If you love working with children but want to earn good money, there is only one real way. Work and study. If you do a Foundation Degree you have the chance to end up a Manager or go on to do a full degree and progress to be a teacher. It's like any career, start at the bottom and work your way up!! Sorry to sound harsh but these days the only way to make decent money is to get yourself well qualified in whatever career you want to take.
And lastly, I promise you the only way any nursery provider can pay you a 'decent' wage is by making the childcare fees astronomical for parents - which would mean basically no parents, no job.
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 26-04-07 19:19by: scarlett
I agree with everything Happygirl has said. I own my own nursery and the outgoings we have are huge. Staff and other people think I am loaded, I think they they it all goes in my back pocket (I wish).
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 04-05-07 21:53I am also a nursery owner, I also agree with other nursery owners the cost of running a nursery are astonomical.Nobody realises this, they think it is easy cash. Far from it when there are so many outgoings everyday for something or other.
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 09-05-07 14:33by: Happygirl
Thank you two the other nursery owners who backed me up and confirmed what I know that nursery nurses just don't believe - we really are not earning loads of money. The only ones who do earn money are those that own three or four, and then adding all the 'profits' together may give them a decent income. I think people need to remember that we, as nursery owners, have had to take huge financial risks to open up a nursery for a very small return. I do it because I love children and have always wanted to own my own business.
I am doing my foundation degree and the course is full with nursery nurses with ambition, who love children and want to go on to be teachers. They all work full time and spend one evening a week and countless hours at home doing assignments and reading. In 5 years they will be teachers and hopefully earning a good salary. If you want to be paid well, there is only one way to do it - study and work your way up the ladder.
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 09-05-07 20:55by: space
I lived on the outskirt of London when I was a nursery supervisor and earn £9.45 per hour. Not is all bad if you look around, but living near London this was not the prefect wage!
I can agree that the wages are'nt fantastic, but its where your heart is that counts.
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 11-05-07 10:18by: scarlett
yes in an ideal world the rates you put would be great I agree with your figures.
one problem though??
how can parents afford to pay £300 a week for a place (because that is what they will have to pay to enable nursery owners to pay those high wages.)
So again it boils down to the government. They should pay more funding for the Nursery Education (which should be monitored to proove thatmost of the money is going to increase wages(the rest going on essentials eg running costs).
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 12-05-07 17:21by: whmon
I'd just like to add my comments about owning a nursery. When I bought my nursery 2 years ago, I expected to take a drop in salary. What I didn't expect was to have to work for nothing. The only way that my nursery is sustainable is that one person (i.e me) has to work without wages. I work 11 hours per day, 5 days per week without a lunch break. My health is beginning to suffer and worse still, we are having to sell our beautiful home because we can't afford the mortgage payments. While I do have some sympathy for low paid nursery staff, how I wish I could earn the minimum wage myself.
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 12-05-07 20:23by: Tish501
I too am a Nursery owner open for 30 months.I agree with all the overhead costs....especially heating...but I too have no wages..but my 4 staff are well paid,depending on age and experience...well above minimum wage,and I supply their drinks(hot and cold),the essential supply of chocolate bars...birthday pressys,christmas bonus....this all helps keep staff morale high,they love their work,our parents love them....our places are always taken as soon as they are free,but then we are registered for only 20....(with the prospect of empty spaces during the holidays..our nursery is all open plan...no seperate room for a holiday club,funded only children room...but we make it work....I have looked after children for 30 years,childminded, then at GREAT expensed converted a double garage into a lovely cosy Nursery.Hassle with the local council...wouldn't give permission,expense of a successful appeal,only if we paid for a very expensive block paved LONG drive to lessen noise for neighbours,remortgage,...I wouldn't say we,as owners are rolling in money,but the PLUSES.....doing a job I love..employing 4 fantastic staff,being appreciated by most of our parents....but best of all guiding children down the path to adulthood and seeing the changes in them as they go off to school....who can buy that???
It is priceless......
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 22-05-07 17:47by: poison dwarf :)
I've been reading the comments regarding pay and it is appalling.
I worked in a school when i qualified 10 years ago and started on 8k!!! I left there to work for a sure start project,where i have since moved to another project. I must say I am well paid and couldn't go back to a lower level of pay again. Nursery nurses are essential,but the pay certainly does not reflect this.
