Opinion

‘I appreciate every lesson I’ve learnt’

Early years teacher trainee Mary McAleese explains the joys and challenges of practice, how she has increasing respect for her fellow practitioners and why, for her, the dimension of university study is so important.
'If you do not love what you learn then the children will not love what you teach,' says trainee teacher Mary McAleese.
'If you do not love what you learn then the children will not love what you teach,' says trainee teacher Mary McAleese.

Becoming an early years teacher is like running headfirst into the freezing cold ocean. It may seem like a foolish idea. In early years the hours are long, the pay is famously low, and there will always be someone who says ‘don’t work with children’. However, once you’re in, it’s great. You’re swimming around and willing all your friends to join you.

I have been working in a nursery for over a year now and there have been many pros and some cons during my time as an early year’s practitioner so far.

The EYFS for example, has things I still strive to securely complete as a woman in her mid-20s. The job is a mix of thinking, ‘wow, are they really learning something great here or have we all been running around in circles for 15 minutes for no reason?’. And have we really been stimulating the sponge-like brain of a fascinated pre-schooler by delivering a world class activity involving volcanoes and counting to 25?

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