Letter of the week
Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Why must every children's centre include a qualified teacher? This seems outrageous, as it discriminates between nursery nurses and teachers. Does the Government think a nursery nurse cannot do the same job as a teacher? If qualified staff have imagination and are eager to provide a high-quality, stimulating environment, then there should be no difference in the curriculum in a centre. I believe that nursery nurses provide a hands-on approach and teachers want to see more of an end result.
If qualified staff have imagination and are eager to provide a high-quality, stimulating environment, then there should be no difference in the curriculum in a centre. I believe that nursery nurses provide a hands-on approach and teachers want to see more of an end result.
Relating with external agencies, supporting parents and running training courses are things that come second nature to nursery nurses who have worked in social services or council-run establishments. But it's all new for teachers. So why are teachers paid more than even the centre managers?
Twenty years ago I worked in a day nursery in a disadvantaged area and we provided everything that a children's centre does now. There was not a teacher in sight. Staff attended case conferences, made court appearances and provided detailed assessments and records.
Why can't nursery nurses be seen as equal? Does the Government think that only teachers can provide the 'superior service' and nursery staff just play? Would a sand tray set out for a dinosaur topic be any different when set out by a teacher rather than a nursery nurse? Would a training course for parents on play given by a teacher be any different to one delivered by a nursery nurse?
The only real difference is that a nursery nurse or an assistant would have done most of the preparation work for the teacher, or the teacher would have been paid overtime to prepare the work necessary. The nursery nurse would have done all the work herself in her unpaid time!
Will nursery nurse always be the 'underdog' to teachers? Sadly, this appears to be what is being preached in children's centres!
* Sue Williams, Cardiff
