Louise
Graduated 2005

I started my degree with the view to go onto to do a PGCE, but after studying for so long I decided I wanted a break.

I started working in a private day nursery as a Deputy Manager, planning a curriculum for children aged between 6 months and 4 years and managing the nursery in the Managers absence. This proved hard work and stressful at first, but I began to enjoy it eventually.

After a while, I realised I wanted more contact with the children and didn’t want the management side of education until I get older.

I moved to a crèche where I was working part time until something came along that interested me. I was caring for over 100 children a week, offering sessional care for children aged 2- 7 years which gave me experience in comforting children who were separating from parents for the first time and children with SEN. I was planning activities for children using both birth to three and foundation stage.

Whilst I was working there I got a full time job as a family nursery worker at a children’s centre, where I am now. I feel all my experience in the other jobs has given me the knowledge for this job.

As a family nursery worker, I have my own group of children I am responsible for. The children come to me for registration, end of session and assessment reports I have to write. I currently have 9 children in the morning and 12 in the afternoon and some full timers. I particularly enjoy having a particular set of children that I am responsible for, because I get to know them as individuals and their stages of development.

I work in a team of 8 staff, three of which are Teachers, plus Nursery Nurses and Family Nursery Workers. As a team we plan the curriculum weekly using foundation stage. In the nursery, I am Outdoor Play Coordinator alongside a Teacher.  Each week I am responsible for setting a focus group on outdoor play using the stepping stones. This tells staff in nursery what my focus is for that week. So for example, I had throwing and catching last week so that was what we concentrated on that week outside.

In my family group I plan what I want to teach the children at the end of each session. Sometimes we have a story, circle time, music time or activities that focus on team work and working together.

I work an extended year which means my contract states I work in the school holidays for holiday club. We care for about 10 children, ensuring they have fun just like they would have at home. It’s a play time for them, not normal education time like nursery is.

My degree has given me so much experience in different care settings and the theoretical background to ensure I know about an exciting child curriculum.
Without my degree I feel I would not have secured the Deputy Manager Job.

For my dissertation, I focused on children’s views on outdoor play. Without that knowledge I feel I wouldn’t have been given the role of Outdoor Play Coordinator.

I thoroughly enjoy my job now and wouldn’t change anything at the moment. I have connections with Sure Start within the children’s centre which gives me experience support families in need of care and education.

I am thinking about going to do my PGCE, but I’m still young and I’m in a job that gives me the experience to be a good teacher.

I would advise any Early Childhood Studies student to reach for the sky in whatever you do. I feel any experience you have working with children is a valuable experience and will enable you to be a fantastic educator.
 

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