Early years teacher jobs

Early childhood educators are responsible for guiding children aged 0 to 5 years old through a formative period of their lives in which they need to be inspired, excited, and nurtured.

Up to the age of five, your job as an early years teacher (EYT) is to encourage children to learn and think creatively about how to utilize the resources at their disposal to do so. You will make sure that they are in a protected setting so that they may improve their social and communication skills, and you will also keep track of your observations and compile a summary of their accomplishments.

You will be able to work as an early years teacher (EYT) in private, voluntary, or independent (PVI) settings such day nurseries, preschools, and playgroups as a consequence of the training that you will get, which will earn you the early years teacher status (EYTS). You might also look for employment in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) of an independent school, academy, or free school. This level covers the reception year.

It is important to note that if you wish to work as an early years teacher in a school that is managed by a local authority, you will need to obtain qualified teacher status (QTS), which is a distinct qualification from the early years teaching certificate (EYTS). If you have an EYTS, you are still able to work in a maintained school; however, you will not be able to take sole responsibility for teaching a class; rather, you will be placed in a role such as a higher level teaching assistant or cover teacher. See the article on primary school teachers for further information on how to become a teacher in a maintained school.

It is essential to ensure that the early years foundation stage (EYFS) in England is adhered to in every environment in which you design and carry out activities for young children. See The Early Years Framework for information on early years standards in Scotland; for early years standards in Wales, see Education and skills; and for early years standards in Northern Ireland, see Early Years Education.

Responsibilities

As a teacher of children in the early years, you will be expected to:

Motivate and promote a child's learning potential, often promoting the idea that learning may take place via experience

Within the safe confines of the educational setting, give children with pastoral care and support.

Contribute to the development of the child's personal, social, linguistic, and physical coordination skills.

conceive of, design, and create instructional materials and visual aids

Develop children's mathematical and creative abilities by having them read books, sing songs, draw pictures, and participate in activities.

Encourage children's natural inquisitiveness and thirst for learning.

collaborate with other individuals, such as teaching assistants and nursery nurses, in addition to volunteer workers, in order to organize and coordinate work activities both inside and outside.

the sharing of acquired information with other practitioners, as well as the establishment and maintenance of connections with parents

Track, evaluate, and keep a record of the development of each kid.

During all activities, both within and outside the setting, you need to make sure that the health and safety of the personnel and the children is not compromised.

Participate in employee gatherings as well as training days.

maintain a state of current awareness about curricular shifts as well as advances in recommended procedures.

Salary

Because individual companies determine wages and working conditions, the industry in which you are employed may have a significant impact on your compensation and working circumstances.

Beginning salary may range anywhere from about £16,000 to £18,000, however certain firms may give more than this.

You may be able to earn incomes ranging from £22,000 to £36,000 if you have gained the necessary experience and skills. Functions related to supervision or management are often included in jobs that fall under this category.

Because remuneration is not regulated in the same manner as it is for individuals who have qualified teacher status (QTS), it is currently challenging to earn wages at the same levels as those who have QTS. Maintaining an awareness of the education press and the most recent news from the Department for Education (DfE) is important in the event that there are any upcoming changes or consultations that are related to this.

The monetary amounts listed are just meant to serve as a reference point.

Time spent working

The number of hours varies based on the environment, but the maximum each week is forty. Because nurseries are typically open from 7:30 in the morning until 6:30 in the evening, it is possible that you will be required to cover shifts during those hours. Work at a school normally takes place between the hours of 7:30 in the morning and 3:30 or 4 in the afternoon.

It's possible that things like staff meetings, inspections, and talks with parents will take up more time. It is possible that you may need to devote more time to the process of planning and preparing for events or classes, but this is something that will depend on the environment in which you operate.

It is possible to get job shares, temporary employment, part-time hours, and even possibilities to take a vacation from one's profession. There is also the opportunity to work in the banking industry or as a substitute teacher.

What may be anticipated

You will collaborate with other people who work in the childcare industry as part of a team. These may include nursery practitioners and teaching assistants, however the specific roles might vary depending on the environment. Because of the amount of paperwork needed in the profession, it is not uncommon to have to work from home on the evenings and weekends.

Your personal life and the activities you participate in outside of work hours may suffer as a result of the consistent demands placed on your energy, ideas, and creativity, as well as the essential paperwork.

There are job openings across the United Kingdom; however, the prospects are greatest in the country's major cities and towns.

Whenever you work in a nursery, you will normally be given a room and an age range to care for, such as toddlers, pre-schoolers, or older children, however you may be rotated between rooms as necessary to provide coverage. In a school, you will almost always be working out of the classroom that you have been assigned to.

At the moment, there is an unacceptable lack of male participation in early years provision. This is something that is generally acknowledged, and there are now initiatives underway both to encourage more men to explore it as a career option and to assist settings in recruiting more men to fill jobs within those settings. See, for instance, "Men in Their Formative Years" (MITEY). This is a network that encourages gender diversity in the early years workforce and it is open to new members without charge. It produces materials to assist firms in becoming more male-friendly and maintains a jobs portal where employers that have signed the MITEY Charter are able to post their open positions.

Only in exceptional circumstances, such as when doing infrequent house visits or going on school excursions, does one travel during the working day. There is a low probability of working or traveling abroad, as well as spending the night away from home.

Motivate the next generation to come.

Outstanding teacher education program according to Ofsted

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Qualifications

You'll need to get early years teacher status before you can work in the early childhood education field (EYTS).

There are many Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) programs that may ultimately lead to EYTS certification, including the following

Entry at the undergraduate level requires completion of a full-time degree program in an early childhood-related topic, which may take anywhere from three to four years. Before you apply, make sure you check out the courses that lead to EYTS. Tuition fee loans are available.

Those who have an undergraduate degree but have little experience working with children may apply for graduate entrance, which is normally a full-time year of education lasting 12 months that also includes work placements. Check the names of the courses to see whether they lead to EYTS. In addition to the several bursaries that are offered, there is a grant in the amount of £7,000 that may be used to pay the cost of your education.

graduate training with an employment focus - a path that may be completed in one year on a part-time basis and is intended for graduates who are currently employed in an early years environment but want further training to demonstrate that they fulfill the Teachers' Standards (early years). There is funding available in the amount of £14,000, which will pay the course fees (up to £7,000) and contribute £7,000 toward the expenses that would be borne by your business.

assessment alone - this self-funded path is excellent for graduates who have experience working with children from birth to age five and who satisfy the Teachers' Standards (Early Years) without the requirement for extra training. This route may be taken by anybody who is eligible. The completion of this evaluation takes around three months on average.

EYITT programs may be pursued in either the academic setting of a university or the more traditional setting of a school. Applications are submitted in person to service providers that have been accredited. You will require at least a grade C/4 on your General Certificate of Secondary Education (or its equivalent) in English, maths, and science, in addition to two or three A-levels, in order to enroll in any of the programs. A bachelor's degree with a minimum grade point average of 2.2 or better is often required for admission to graduate school.

In addition to this, you will be required to pass either an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in England and Wales or a check that is analogous to it in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

See the following for further information on early childhood education in Scotland and Northern Ireland:

This organization is known as the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS)

Education and Library Services Department for Northern Ireland (DENI)

The Early Years Teaching Certificate (EYTS) is a specialized certificate that enables you to solely teach with children under the age of five. If you wish to teach at the primary level, rather than the early childhood level, you will require qualified teacher status, or QTS. See the article on elementary school teachers for further details.

Skills

You'll need to make sure you have:

outstanding abilities both in speaking and listening to others

excellent organizational abilities, which are necessary for day planning and catering to the various requirements of the students you instruct

the capacity to excite and motivate younger children

the qualities of vigor, resourcefulness, responsibility, patience, and a compassionate disposition

an awareness of both the physical and emotional requirements of children

capacity to work individually with children, as well as the ability to operate as part of a larger team within a nursery or school setting

a good sense of humor and the capacity to maintain perspective in all situations.

You will also need the endurance to keep up with the requirements and energy of a big group of young and active children, and you will benefit from having creative abilities such as music, dance, theater, and arts and crafts.

Practice in the workplace

Course providers will often request that applicants demonstrate relevant job experience working with children in a setting such as a school or nursery.

Volunteering in a local playgroup or play scheme or job that demonstrates you've given care and promoted children's development are further examples of experience that are relevant to the position. It is a good idea to visit nurseries and schools to watch and chat to early years teachers. This might also lead to possibilities for work experience if you take advantage of the opportunity.

In order to submit an application via the graduate employment-based route, you will need to be working in an early years setting or school that provides the EYFS and supports your application.