Moving uni

stephyt23

I'm a 2nd year teacher trainee and am having a lot of problems with my uni. I have contacted a different one with the hope I can transfer (It's going from full time to part time, still a teaching degree, and 2nd year doesn't start til Jan so won't have missed anything)

The question is: is it better to transfer? Or can I quit where I am and apply to start the new uni from the 2nd year?

soda-monkey

In my experience,a transfer is better. i didnt want to leave one uni and have a long gap between the two,which would have happened had i quit, so i put in a transfer about two months before the end of the year and knew by the end of the year that i had a transfer to save me from quitting,if you know what i mean.

stephyt23

Thanks for that.

How does it work with SF? I know that's gonna be the awkward bit. I have obviously had the first instalment but because I'd be moving to a part time degree the costs are about half what they are now. I just want to know if I'll end up paying more or anything?

Lokolo

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/Afteryourfirstyear/DG_171586

This might help.

They will most likely reasses you.

Oldernotwiser

Have you been in HE before this time?

stephyt23

Thanks Lokolo, will have a look at that

Oldernotwiser no I haven't. This is my first degree so first time to uni

stephyt23

Well that's half my problem solved, now I appear to be struggling with the second part.

To cut a long story short I basically tore a disc in my back when I was 18 in a work accident at a nursery (i'm now 24). I've been told that the damage is permanent and won't heal. I had to quit my job at the time and 2 years ago decided to go into teaching as i missed working with children. I signed up to do an Early Years primary degree to specialise in 3 to 7 year olds. I had to sign a fit to teach document when starting.

I had no probs with my back last year teaching in reception. This year I've been out in a nursery. I emailed my concerns and stressed this wasn't suitable due to the fact a lot of time is spent sitting on the floor and this will aggravate my back. I was ignored, and so was a doctors note basically saying the same thing.

First day Friday and surprise surprise I had no choice but to sit on the floor the whole day. The room I was in had 6 tiny chairs all occupied by children. I emailed today to say I won't be going in tomorrow (due to be at the nursery tomorrow and for the next 4 Wednesday's)

Got a reply saying they are concerned I'm not fit to teach. Have stated there is a big difference between teaching in a school and sitting on the floor in a nursery. I know my body and I know my limitations and will be fine to teach. (have done teaching assistant work in the past and been fine)

I feel through this hurting and all the stress this and other uni things are causing that I'm going to my doctor and getting signed off for a couple of weeks.

So my question is will this impact upon my transfer? The only reason I'm needing a doctors note is due to the stress and pain caused by uni, other wise I'm perfectly fine.

Sorry for this being so long

Oldernotwiser

stephyt23 wrote: »

Well that's half my problem solved, now I appear to be struggling with the second part.

To cut a long story short I basically tore a disc in my back when I was 18 in a work accident at a nursery (i'm now 24). I've been told that the damage is permanent and won't heal. I had to quit my job at the time and 2 years ago decided to go into teaching as i missed working with children. I signed up to do an Early Years primary degree to specialise in 3 to 7 year olds. I had to sign a fit to teach document when starting.

I had no probs with my back last year teaching in reception. This year I've been out in a nursery. I emailed my concerns and stressed this wasn't suitable due to the fact a lot of time is spent sitting on the floor and this will aggravate my back. I was ignored, and so was a doctors note basically saying the same thing.

First day Friday and surprise surprise I had no choice but to sit on the floor the whole day. The room I was in had 6 tiny chairs all occupied by children. I emailed today to say I won't be going in tomorrow (due to be at the nursery tomorrow and for the next 4 Wednesday's)

Got a reply saying they are concerned I'm not fit to teach. Have stated there is a big difference between teaching in a school and sitting on the floor in a nursery. I know my body and I know my limitations and will be fine to teach. (have done teaching assistant work in the past and been fine)

I feel through this hurting and all the stress this and other uni things are causing that I'm going to my doctor and getting signed off for a couple of weeks.

So my question is will this impact upon my transfer? The only reason I'm needing a doctors note is due to the stress and pain caused by uni, other wise I'm perfectly fine.

Sorry for this being so long

If you could possibly avoid going sick at this point I would really try to do so. If there's a question mark over your fitness to teach you're really handing them more ammunition by going off sick for several weeks.

MrsManda

stephyt23 wrote: »

So my question is will this impact upon my transfer? The only reason I'm needing a doctors note is due to the stress and pain caused by uni, other wise I'm perfectly fine.

Possibly as you may fail the requirement to be fit to teach but it'll be up to the place you are transferring to to make the call.
Could you not ask your placement supervisor if you could sit on a adult size chair rather than just going off sick?

my_definition

im sorry if this sounds a bit insensitive but i think the uni need to do something about this. It is an additional support need if you had a physical disability then surely they would provide you with support. It can be much to ask for a chair or somthing to be brought into the nursery for you? im teaching in Scotland (well still training) but i know of a teacher who was in a wheelchair who was allowed to teach so i dont see how they cannot make allowances for this?

Have you talked to the nursery staff? i would avoid calling in sick but surely you could just say to them and they might be able to help? i was in nursery for 4 weeks last year and we werent required to sit on the floor all the time. i think its a disgrace that we are constantly taught to respond to every child and intergrate children with asn and they wont even consider giving you a chair or some decent support for your back.

stephyt23

@ my definition thank you! I totally agree that this is unacceptable. What makes matters worse is the fact they moved one person because she is pregnant to a nursery closer to home so she has less travelling time! Yet still travels to uni which is the same distance as her original uni so god knows how that works!!

It's funny how if I'd done the normal Primary route i wouldn't even be in this situation, it's only from being in a nursery it's flared up again which I knew it would. I was told it's all part of teaching sitting on the floor. What a load of crap when I've never seen a teacher sat on the floor, and it would be up to the individual and their choice anyway depending what lesson they are doing.

I see where the others are coming from so I'm thinking I'll take the rest of this week off and go back in next week. I'll ask about the chair situation (think I'll call them before next Wednesday) as from looking around I didn't see one adult sized, or even slightly big chair. At least then I've tried but to ignore mine and a doctors advice is disgraceful in my view, although nothing surprises me because my uni really is that bad! We've had over 20 people drop out between years 1 and 2.