Graduates In Nurseries

[cassa333]

Have such a tiny impact that it doesn't seem necessary.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-38956554

I work in an infant school (only lunch times though) and from what I see daily has led me to believe that nursery years should be more about socialisation, fine motor skills and getting ready to learn rather than learning and assesing them. Skills such as taking turns, sitting quietly, listening, sharing and working with others are needed. All these things set them up for the hard task of constructive learning when they hit education proper.

But I'm only a lunch time leader. What do I know about education and learning.

[Dazzleflash]

I don't think the education system is in chaos. Early Years teaching is so important I think it does require people who have studied for 3 years for a degree. Its not all about teaching children to sit up straight or being quiet, and when it is it needs to be done properly not have some untrained person who may do more harm than good. Graduates learn about child psychology,different ways to approach negative behaviours etc. You can't just have some bossy dinner lady type person taking charge or some limp yummy mummy, its a very important time in a child's life.

[B00]

In answer to bednobs question- there's absolutely nothing wrong with toilet training children and teaching them how to use a knife and fork, other than it's basic things that should be taught by the parents, not a secondary care giver!

[Dazzleflash]

My youngest went to a private nursery around 10 years ago where a 'helper' regularly yanked his knife and fork from his 'wrong' hands to his 'correct' hands -he is left handed. It made him very distressed at mealtimes to the point of being sick. He was just turned 3 years old. When I found out I told the Principle and the person was 'let go' as she had done other things like degrade children who wet their pants ( big girls/boys don't do that its disgusting) sort of thing. Professional graduates tend not to have the ' it was good enough for me growing up' sort of attitude and embrace new thinking in education, which is good.

[ummmm]

But B00, mine were in nursery at about 18 months so it's a matter of working together.

[cassa333]

You don't need to be a graduate. That has been shown in the results when the government was trying to improve things. Training in early years is important and there has to be qualified and working towards qualification staff but not to graduate stage. That is what NVQs and such like are for. Wanting graduate status is, in my opinion, just the profession trying to up the anti as nurses have done by being 'nurse practitioners' and now don't actually do traditional nurseling. Parent helpers in early years settings are closely monitored. And I have to say, like any profession, I have seen some fantastic parent helpers and some really poor qualified staff. Being qualified at times is no better than mum helpers.

More and more people go to work and so younger children are going into day care or whatever you want to call it for longer periods so from that stand point it is a collaboration of parent and early years setting.

But ultimately it is the parent.

Education proper starts in reception year. preschool is just that, before school, before education, but the people who realised our education system was falling behind the countries that traditionally were behind us decided the best way to get back on top was to make education start earlier, in preschool. I have not seen the data but I suspect that it hasn't actually panned out that way.

[meglet]

How will this work in practise then? Will they be studying on the job, as I can't see anyone studying for a degree full time (with all the debt that would incur) to end up in a job that can't pay an awful lot more than minimum wage.

Which is actually another point, would graduates want to command a higher salary. Costs that would ultimately be passed back to the parents. Trust me, I have 3 kids under 4 at nursery, and childcare costs are crippling.

[bednobs]

B00, my daughter was in nursery 5 days a week from 9 months. She had 1 meal at home a day during the week. Are you seriously saying i should have just toilet trained her at the weekends and left her in nappies during the week???

[meglet]

I agree Bednobs. Being an early years teacher is basically a care job and will include feeding and wiping bums and noses. The girls at my kid's nursery are very experienced and I don't mind admitting they do a better job than me!

[ummmm]

I bet they don't do a better job than you, meglet, it's just that they are not as emotionally involved and get to share the care with other people. How easy would parenting be if you had a cleaner, cook and others to help?

Not taking away from the great job that nursery staff do but they're getting paid to do it and get to concentrate on the children and no other outside pressures like parents have.