by: Sally1987 - 29-08-04 21:08
Hello, i was wondering if you would advice people to become involved in childcare, relating to the wage? Or would you advice people to try to get a job earning more money. basically Is they hours you work value for money?
by: jrennie1984
I have been working in a private nursery for nearly one year now I went into the job with no previous experience therefore expected a low wage. I was offered the minimum wage acceptable in Scotland and after some consideration took the job as I am living with my parents I could afford to do so at the time.
I was told I would receive training at collage to get qualified and that I would receive a bones and pay rise at the end of the year however I have heard nothing more about this since I started and it is coming up for a year now. As for collage there seems to be a extremely long waiting list I was supposed to start in April and its now September.
Since starting the job my financial responsibilities are increasing and I am under a great deal of pressure I work 40 hours a week not including breaks and struggle each month to make ends meet. I could NEVER afford my own home or even to move out from my parent’s house.
Before starting in Childcare I worked on a check out in retail and earned more serving people their groceries all day than I do for looking after their children.
I feel that in such a responsible, stressful, job we should be earning more. I work very hard go give the kids in my room fun learning experience each day I take work home often buy recourses for my room from my own pocket and although I have a fantastic boss who thanks me I feel I am being used at times. I come home from work shattered and then spend sometimes up to an hour researching and planning for work (unpaid)
Private nursery staff have little or no representation so they can't go on strike.
I don't know how I will stay in this career much longer if the wage stays the same even qualified I will earn less than £6 per hour.
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 04-09-04 12:12by: theodore24
BUT, after all the negativity about our (lack of pay) I wouldn't change my job for the world!!As long as i have the basics to live, my job is my happiness and it's what i live for
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 04-09-04 13:32by: jrennie1984
I agree that I would never want to change my job I love my job and put 100% into it no matter what the pay.
However I can barley afford the basics to live and this is my point living expenses are going up and once I have a family of my own to support and am no longer living with my parents I will never be able to stay in this career and suficiantly support myself.
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 05-01-05 19:04by: kulz
hi
i have recently finished the diploma in childcare and now wrok in a parivate nursery and only get paid £4.50 an hour.(england)something really needs to be done about our pay.
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 08-01-05 09:32by: nmorris
I am hoping to open a nursery in the south wales area and I am thinking of paying the following annual gross payments.
Nursery Manager £15000-£18000
Senior Nursery Nurse £13000-£16000
Nursery Nurse £12000-£14000
Nursery Assistant £10500-£12000
Plus 4 weeks paid annual leave and bank holidays. With a yearly bonus if we are full for the year.
It is important that private nurseies reward staff as they are the people that make it possible!!
Does this sound resonable?
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 20-01-05 18:02by: faeriepoppett
I work at an out of school club in England and the playworker is on min £5 per hour and supervisor is min £6 per hour. My sister works in a concil nursery and she is on £7 per hour, but if she does supply work it goes up to nearly £10 per hour.
I think the money is in supply work!
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 20-01-05 18:02by: faeriepoppett
I work at an out of school club in England and the playworker is on min £5 per hour and supervisor is min £6 per hour. My sister works in a concil nursery and she is on £7 per hour, but if she does supply work it goes up to nearly £10 per hour.
I think the money is in supply work!
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 15-06-05 19:14by: scarlett
our nursery assistants get min wage, our nursery nurses get £5.30, Supervisors get £6 per hour.
there has to be a differential between each level of responsibility, so have to start scale 1 at min wage. otherwise the fees dont pay for the wages and overheads eg rent rates food insurance, Employers national insurance. the government should pay more money to private nurseries who profice nursery education so then wages can be increased....
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 15-06-05 20:20by: jcab
I have been recently looking at jobs within Sure Start areas and for a Nursery Nurse, it wasnt much more than 11grand. I was quite disappointed to see that a government run service pays lower than a school....
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 15-06-05 21:50by: jrennie1984
The only thing I can say about the pay for nursery nurse's is its disgusting, degrading and insulting and something should me done to force greedy employers to pay us a decent wage so we can actually afford to live at the moment I am in serious debt and constantly worrying about money. I fear that one day I will have to leave a career that I love and have studied and worked hard for. Nursery owners get a grip and start paying your staff decent wages my recommended salary would be;
Nursery assistants 5.50 going up after experience.
Nursery nurse 7.00 going up after experience
Supervisor 8.00
Manager 10.00
This is just a start in a few years I recommend that the wage gradually increase so that in the end an annual salary will be;
Nursery assistant 13000
Nursery nurse 17000
Supervisor 22000
Manager 27000
We are in a job with tremendous responsabilitys and there are extremely high expectations. Yes our jobs are rewarding but also very stressful. We are molding the future generations and preparing them for life so why should we get paid less than someone serving behind a checkout.
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 19-06-05 11:29by: nannynick
In Surrey, I found that £13,000pa was typical for a Nursery Nurse working in a day nursery.
However, as someone else has already said, Supply Work is paid better - £8 per hour is typical in my area (Surrey/Berkshire).
If you want to compare against a nanny, then when nannying I get £14,000pa working Term Time only (so 40 weeks per year, including 4 weeks paid holiday). If that's multiplied out to be a full year, then it's around £18,500pa.
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 15-07-05 15:09by: kimmie
I think that to work with children that u've got to love the job rather than the money as it's never gonna get any better as the only reason that we are all working with children is because we love them but we could all do with extra money though i'm guessing!! at the end of the day i think we are all in the same boat when it comes to working with children though at the end of the day!! I do also think that although there's not much difference between wages but all staff i think basically do the same amount of work and also have the same amount of responsiblity for the protection and welfare of the children that we all work with!! as is there really any other more fulfilling jobs to do out there other than working with children as if there is what are we doing here apart from the children though!! plus getting experience and qualifications whilst at work with the children as its important to look after them though!! let me know what u think?? luv kim xx :):)
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 10-04-07 00:07by: dollywalker
Just my personal view but I don't know of any early years setting (Sure start or otherwise) that pays good money for nursery nurses.
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 11-04-07 20:52by: sharna
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!!
Nursery Nurses wages????? - 19-04-07 21:39by: 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.
