Nursery Teacher
What is the work like?
Nursery teachers work with children aged three to five in nursery schools or classes, planning and organising a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities.
As a nursery teacher you would:
- help children's social, personal, physical and emotional development
- develop their language, literacy and numeracy skills
- help them achieve the early learning goals of the National Curriculum
- encourage co-operation and good behaviour.
As well as working with the children, you would:
- set out activities before classes and tidy up afterwards
- prepare activities and resources
- talk to parents or carers about their children’s development
- monitor children’s development and identify any problems
- keep records and complete assessments for each child
- attend meetings an training courses.
You would also work with, and supervise teaching assistants, nursery nurses and volunteer helpers.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
To be a nursery teacher in a state school, you must gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) by doing Initial Teacher Training (ITT). There are four types of ITT:
- undergraduate
- postgraduate
- School-Centered Initial Teacher Training (SCITT)
- work-based.
As a basis for all of these you will need:
- GCSEs (A-C) English, maths and science or equivalent qualifications – you should check with course providers for their requirements
- to pass tests in numeracy, literacy and ICT (information and communications technology)
- CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) clearance.
It would be an advantage if you have experience of working with children (either paid or voluntary) in the relevant age group. For example, you could volunteer at a local school.
You can choose from the four types of ITT, depending on whether you already have higher education qualifications.
Undergraduate route
If you do not already have a degree you can gain QTS alongside your degree by doing one of the following types of course:
- BA (Hons) or BSc (Hons) with QTS
- Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree course (at a few universities).
Some of these courses will give you the opportunity to concentrate on the three to five age group (Early Years). The courses last for three or four years full-time.
You would usually need:
- at least two A levels (one of which should be in a National Curriculum subject), and
- at least five GCSEs (A-C).
Universities may accept other qualifications, such as an Access to Higher Education course. Check with course providers for their exact requirements.
To search for colleges and universities offering the degrees see Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.
Postgraduate routes
If you have a degree or equivalent in a subject relevant to the primary National Curriculum, you can get QTS by doing a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) course. Courses can be one year full-time, two years part-time or flexible by distance learning. You can search for PGCE courses and apply on-line on Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR).
School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT)
SCITT is classroom-based training which takes one year and leads to QTS. You would need to have a degree for this course.
Employment-based routes
You can gain QTS whilst working in a school on a trainee salary on one of the following programmes:
- Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) – you must already have a degree
- Registered Teacher Programme (RTP) – you must have completed two years of higher education (for example, a BTEC HND, foundation degree or two years of a degree)
- Overseas Trained Teacher Programme (OTTP) – you must have an overseas (outside the EU) teaching qualification that is equivalent to a UK degree.
The number of places on employment-based programmes is limited and competition is strong.
Visit the Training and Development Agency for Schools website for full details of all entry routes and funding for training.
Northern Ireland
For details of routes into teaching in Northern Ireland see the Department of Education Northern Ireland website.
What further training and development can I do?
When you have completed your ITT course, you would need to complete a probationary period of three terms in employment before you are considered fully qualified. During this time you would have a reduced teaching timetable and would be supported by a mentor.
Throughout your teaching career you would need to keep up to date with new methods and ideas in education by doing in-service training. You could do this by attending training days in school or at local authority training centres.
Fast Track Teaching
As a qualified teacher working in a school in England, you may be able to enter the Fast Track Teaching programme. This provides coaching, mentoring and development activities to help especially talented teachers progress more quickly to senior roles, such as deputy head. The selection process is challenging, and you must have the support of your headteacher. The Fast Track programme is being re-designed for 2009.
Transferring to another age group
You do not need further training before you transfer to a different age group. However, schools recommend that you get some experience of the age group you are intending to teach. This could be done on a voluntary basis. Some LEAs and teacher training institutions offer short conversion or refresher courses. See the Training and Development Agency for Schools for details.
Returning to teaching
If you are a qualified teacher wanting to return to teaching after a career break you can find information, including details of returners' courses and other available support, on the Training and Development Agency for Schools website.
Where can I go for more information?
RosehillNew Barn Lane
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL52 3LZ
Tel: 0870 112 2205
Balloo Road
Bangor
BT19 7PR
Tel: 028 9127 9279
London
SW1W 9SZ
Teaching Information Line: 0845 6000 991
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
Related profiles...
Special Needs Teaching Assistant
Nursery/Primary School Teacher (Scotland)
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
The main salary range is from £20,627 to £30,148 a year (£25,000 to £34,768 in inner London).
Teachers who reach the top of the main scale may apply to be assessed to progress to the upper pay scale. This ranges from £32,660 to £35,121 (£39,114 to £42,419 in inner London).
Salary scales are reviewed each year. See details of the full pay scales on the Training and Development Agency for Schools website.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
As a teacher in a state school in England and Wales, you would work 39 weeks a year in school. Teaching hours vary between schools, but are usually 9am to 3.30pm or 4pm. Nursery-age children are likely to attend school just for the morning or afternoon session, so you would teach two groups.
You would also spend time outside these hours planning, preparing and evaluating activities and attending parents' evenings and in-service training.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- the ability to build good relationships with children, parents/carers and colleagues
- commitment to equal opportunities
- the ability to work in a team but also to use your own initiative
- organisational and time-management skills
- the ability to manage classes well and deal with challenging behaviour
- excellent communication skills
- patience and a good sense of humour.
What opportunities are there?
Most teaching jobs are in state schools, but you could also work in independent schools, hospitals, schools run by the armed forces and Sure Start Children's Centres.
In most schools, you may be able to progress to curriculum leader, deputy headteacher and headteacher. You could also choose to specialise in teaching pupils with special educational needs or move into private tuition. Part-time and supply teaching are also an option.
The government aims to have Early Years Professionals in all early years settings, including nursery and primary schools, by 2010. You may be able to work towards EYP status.
As an Early Years Professional you would work to raise the quality of early years practice in your school, and support and mentor other practitioners. For more information, see the Children's Workforce Development Council website.
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):
Local council websites
eteach.com
Education Guardian
Times Educational Supplement
Teachernet
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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