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Are you passionate about working with children? Do you enjoy spending time with them? Are you creative and interested in cutting and sticking? If your answer is ‘yes,’ becoming a nursery teacher is the right profession for you.
A nursery teacher prepares the students for the next stages of their life by playing multiple roles at a time. Just like a mother, a nursery teacher affectionately takes care of a child in the classroom and remains responsible for the child’s overall well-being. They impart their knowledge, provide guidance and help children develop their emotional and social skills.
If you have been thinking of this profession lately and are curious to know more, read this blog and find out how to become a nursery teacher.
A nursery teacher is someone who teaches basic language and social skills to children at the preliminary stage of their education through play, games and various interactive activities. They actively participate in developing a child’s skills and abilities.
A nursery teacher needs to have a genuine care for children and a passion for teaching using innovative techniques. Since teaching children at the preliminary level is different and challenging than teaching younger children, some of the desirable qualities of nursery teachers are-
1. Patience– The most integral skill that a nursery school teacher would require. As every child is different and so is their attention span and learning ability, teachers need to be patient to deal with them.
2. Engaging Personality- A good teacher should be able to engage students with their charm and personality. When it comes to nursery level students, they usually like the teachers who are entertaining and affectionate towards them. Thus, nursery teachers are required to have a cheerful persona.
3. Creativity- As a nursery grade teacher, you need to be creative and use your imagination while spending time with children.
4. Being Energetic- Nursery teachers need to engage their students by involving them in different interesting activities. The children might not want to cooperate every time, but as a teacher, you should not give up.
5. Flexibility- Teachers need to be prepared for any change in the classroom and they must adapt accordingly. They should be ready to handle any type of difficult situation in the classroom.
6. Humour– Children love to laugh. Having a humorous personality would therefore be a plus point.
7. Good Listening and Communication skill– Children will not be interested in a class if they feel that their teacher is not listening to them. Apart from being a good listener, nursery teachers should also try to be good communicators.
8. Passion for Teaching Children– Nursery teachers need to be passionate about teaching children since this job can get difficult at times. Children are often restless and do not want to follow instructions. Only a teacher having the desire and dedication can deal with children appropriately.
The role of a nursery teacher can be diverse as no two days are the same while teaching preliminary level students. Working with children can be unpredictable, so you might have to perform multiple roles as a nursery teacher. Typical tasks of a nursery teacher may include:
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The working hours of nursery teachers might vary depending on their work setting. However, it can be up to 40 hours a week. Nurseries are usually open from 7.30 am until 6.30 pm and the teachers typically work from 8.30 am to 3.30 or 4 pm.
The nursery teachers also need to work extra hours for staff meetings, inspections and parent consultations. They spend additional time on planning and preparation for activities or lessons as well.
Part-time hours, temporary work and career break opportunities – all are available in this profession.
As a nursery teacher, you cannot stick to a particular task; you would have various responsibilities related to teaching and activities outside teaching as well.
While there are challenges, the job of a nursery teacher can be rewarding as well. Have a look at the benefits of working as a nursery teacher as described below-
If you are planning to be a nursery teacher, you need to be qualified up to degree level with GCSE passes in Maths, English, and Science along with two or three A-levels. You will also have to take a numeracy and literacy test and pass an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Furthermore, to become a nursery teacher in the UK, you must gain Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS). This can be obtained by taking an Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) course.
There are a number of training routes that lead to Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS), which are-
According to the National Careers Service, “The average salary of a nursery teacher is £25,714 at the initial stage of their career which might rise to £36,961 once they become experienced.”
As per totaljobs, the nursery teachers’ pay in different locations are-
| Location | Average | Range |
|---|---|---|
| North West London | £23,000 | £19,000-£25,000 |
| South East London | £21,392 | £19,000-£39,003 |
| South West London | £21,000 | £18,500-£26,000 |
| North London | £19,000 | £17,500-£35,375 |
There may be a heap of opportunities once you have gained experience as an early year or nursery teacher. You can shift to a management role which could be a staff supervisory role or managing a nursery or group of nurseries. You can choose to open your own nursery as well.
With additional qualifications and experience, it is possible to specialise in certain areas, such as special educational needs. You can do further training to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in order to work as a primary or secondary school teacher.
Working as a nursery teacher can also lead to local authority advisory roles or into the mentoring and assessing of early years teachers and other trainees.
As per totaljobs, the nursery teachers’ pay in different locations are-
Nursery teachers play an important role in nurturing children in their early years of development. Their contribution does not remain confined to teaching only; they actively participate in building their emotional intelligence and mentoring them continuously. Undoubtedly, it is an honourable profession.
Teaching assistants (TA) play a pivotal role in the classroom. This is especially true when it comes to supporting pupils with SEN teaching assistants.
Are you interested to know how to become a nursery teacher? Then you might read this blog to find the answer.
SEN stands for Special Education Needs or Special Education Needs and Disabilities. The term SEN covers a wide range of needs including
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