Want to work in pre-school - any advice on best way to train for it?

Mics_chick

I'm currently on Incap Ben because of PND and technically I'm still employed by last employer even though I should have returned from maternity leave 13 months ago!!

Still not 100% with depression but think my job didn't help alot anyway - I hated it with a passion!! Not going back now - think they'll cut me loose soon anyway... I hope :rolleyes:

Thinking about working with littlies. DD goes to pre-school and think I would really enjoy it. Connect well with them and think working in a structured environment would suit be better than being a childminder. I don't really fancy working in a private nursery either cos I would like to work with pre-schoolers rather than just mop up after babies It would fit in with school holidays as well.

My kids are dd 3.5yo and ds 2yo (on Saturday ). Mum would help me look after them. Would like to know which is the best way to find training for this sort of work and what sort of training options are available for mature students.

Can anyone offer advice please MC

immoral_angeluk

To work in a preschool you'll need to be qualified to at least NVQ level 2 (or 3 depending on the school) and also have a recent CRB (but most employers pay for this if you're taken on. I work in a day nursery and got my job without the qualifications as I started a modern apprenticeship through an outside training provider so that's probably your best bet if you're not qualified as they can find you placements but you won't get a proper wage until a placement decides to take you on, you're probably get a training allowance (mine was £40 p/w) instead. Failing that you could always go back to college to retrain and then go straight into employment afterwards.
HTH.

Rachie_B

You dont necessarily have to be qualified,many take you on if you are "working towards" a qualification ,

this is how i started I was doing work placement at a pre school whilst studying for NVQ 3 - childcare & ed.

A few months later they were paying me as childcare assistant ,as they had a vacancy

I ended up assistant supervisor and was there for 4 years until i left the area

you could do a distance learning course if you'd prefer,or some are run in the evenings

so you could do placement in the day for a few days a week, and study in the evenings

Good luck with it

apples1

What about a teaching assistant in a local primary school. It would be term time only and you could work whilst your children were at pre-school.

You can go in as a Support Assistant to one specific child. These posts will be easier to get than a full Teaching Assistant position. It would give you a bit more variety than spending time with children the same age as yours. These positions wold be from five hours per week up to full time school hours depending on the vacancy. Worth checking with your local primary schools. You wouldn't need a qualification to do this although the competition can be stiff but you can do some training courses whilst you are working.

Rachie_B

apples1 wrote:

What about a teaching assistant in a local primary school. It would be term time only and you could work whilst your children were at pre-school.

You can go in as a Support Assistant to one specific child. These posts will be easier to get than a full Teaching Assistant position. It would give you a bit more variety than spending time with children the same age as yours. These positions wold be from five hours per week up to full time school hours depending on the vacancy. Worth checking with your local primary schools. You wouldn't need a qualification to do this although the competition can be stiff but you can do some training courses whilst you are working.

a lot of schools now require at least NVQ level 2 in TA