How To Become a Nursery Teacher

Zoey had always wanted a career in child care, but she was also fascinated by the prospects of being a teacher. After her graduation, she figured out the perfect job to fulfil both roles. And started working towards becoming a Nursery Teacher.

1. How To Become a Nursery Teacher
St. Pauls College
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2. Zoey had always wanted a career in child care, but she was also fascinated by the prospects of
being a teacher. After her graduation, she figuredoutthe perfect jobto fulfil both roles. And
started working towardsbecoming a Nursery Teacher.
Eventually, she acquired the qualifications and hasbeen working for a nursery school in this role
for a year now. Although there are some demandingdays. But at the end of the day when she
thinks of the innocent smiling faces,she knows it’sworth the work!
Any career that involves the well-being of childrenishighly rewarding.Working with kids
requires a person to be compassionate, understandingand patient. And the vocation of a
Nursery Teacher is no different.
Why Should You Become A Nursery Teacher?
The role of a Nursery Teacher is a crucial yet underappreciatedjob. People often think it’s all
about playing all day and accompanying their children.But the function of a nursery teacher is of
much more importance.
Ashortage of about 11000early years’ teachersinthe UK was revealed bySave The Children.
The reason behind it could be lack of proper qualificationand training. Also, genuine
compassion and responsibility towards the childrenplay a definitive role in getting into this job,
rather than just the monetary rewards.
Usually, a nursery teacher has to teach and supervisepupils of age up to 5. This period is the
formative periodfor the child’s overall development.
These five years shape a child’s –
●Physical growth.
●Mental growth
●Social development and sense of community

3. This is the time when they learn to “learn” as they are the most curious and easily inspired at
this age.
Rest assured, your work hours will be eventful. Fromsupervising their napping hours to
shielding yourself from the paint attacks, you haveto figure out creative and exciting ways to
navigate them. You will often have tothink like thechildrenbut in a more responsible way.
Duties & Responsibilities of a Nursery Teacher

4. As a Nursery Teacher, you would have to play a variety of roles. Typical responsibilities include:
●Prepare daily lesson plans for children to educatethem as an individual and as a
group.
●Prepare outdoor activities to help them develop theirmotor skills
●Plan and enable a creative learning environment forthe kids.
●Monitoring the children’s activities and progress.
●Identifying any issues or discomfort any childrenmay be facing and solve the issue.
●Collaborate with parents and other caregivers forthe little one’s overall
development.
●Create visual aids and engaging materials to facilitateeasy and fun learning.
●Making an effort to do the impossible! Keep the classroomand the children tidy!
●Coordinating and supervising other teaching assistants,nurses and helpers.
●Arrange and attend parents and teachers meeting.
●Any administrative duty assigned to you.
●Update your skills and knowledge with training activitiesregularly.
●Work on to ensure a comforting and nurturing environmentfor the children.

5. Explore Our Nursery Teacher Course Online
How to become a Nursery Teacher in the UK?
You can work towards this role by working in a relevantfield and gaining a degree in childhood
development or by obtaining a University degree inthis subject. Either way, some volunteer
work orapprenticeshipwill benefit you finding ajob in this role.
Qualifications required to become a Nursery Teacher
Academics
Undergraduate entry is possible with relevant degreesand experience in working early years
setting. However, a graduation degree will equip youwith better knowledge, skills and
credentials to be placed in your preferred school.
Also, it will boost your chance tofast-track yourcareer growth. And if you intend to teach
pupils above 5 years old, you are required to obtainaQualified teacher status (QTS)in the UK
(where a bachelor’s degree is a general requirement).
Get Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS)
To be a nursery teacher and teach children up to 5years old you need to get theearly years’
teacher status (EYTS). The entry requirement for thisstatus is generally 4 or 5 GCSEs at
grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, with emphasison English, Mathematics and Science.

6. This EYTS will qualify you to be a Nursery Teacher, although, you will have to pass aliteracy
and numeracy testbefore you can start working asa nursery teacher.
You can get this qualification in several possibleways –
●Graduate entry:A full-time course spread over oneyear.
●Graduate employment-based:Part-time option by workingin an early years’
education setting.
●Undergraduate: If you are looking to get a degreein early childhood relevant
subjects, you can enrol to a 3-4 years degree course,which will lead you to EYTS.
●Assessment:this three months assessment course isfor experienced graduates
who have already worked with early years kids.
DBS Check
Since you will be working on the development and well-beingof vulnerable children, you have to
go through aDisclosure and Barring Service (DBS)check before you can be employed.
Online Training On Becoming a Nursery Teacher
There are numerous online courses available on earlyyears’ childhood education, many of them
like thisNursery Teacher Courseoffer CPD AccreditedCredentials. These course will provide
you with in-depth knowledge and skill and professionalcertification.
Additionally, you can enrol to relevant child development,psychologyandchild care coursesto
advance in achildhood education career.
The best thing about these courses is, they are accessiblefrom any device and you canlearn at
your own pace. Many of these courses also offer tutorsupport for you.

7. 7 Essential Skills Required to Become a Nursery Teacher
Apart from the ability to provide formal and informalguidance to the children, you will require to
have someessential skillsto excel as an early years’teacher. The following skills should come
in handy in any profession, especially when it involvespupils of nursery education.
1. Communication skills
Communication skills are crucial in any aspect oflife, more so in your professional practice.
Since you would be working with children as a NurseryTeacher, this skill is going to be most
valuable of your assets.
Children can be fragile and vulnerable, especiallyat this age. Your listening skill and directive
approach can be a make or break deal to succeed inthis profession.

8. 2. Time Management skills
As part of your job responsibility, you have to planand create daily lessons along with other
regular tasks. You will require to be at your bestin terms ofeffective time management. Keeping
track of all these at some point can be exhaustiveunless you candevelop a workable
schedule.
3. Imaginative & Creative thinking ability
Children start to show their creative side at thisage. To inspire them, you will have tothink and
plan creativelytoo. They can get bored easily andguess what they do when they are bored?
You don’t want to know!
Keep them motivated, active and engaged. The teachingand learning process both should be a
fun experience. The idea is to let their creativefluid colour your classroom.

9. Enrol to Early Years Foundation Stage Diploma
Today!
4. Resourcefulness
To plan the indoor and outdoor activities and otherfunctions expected of a Nursery Teacher, you
will have to be resourceful. There is bound to besome difference in expectation and reality we
plan something, especially to a kids’ perspective.
But, in spite of any shortcomings, you have toapplyyourselfto make their experience a
delightful one.

10. 5. Teamwork skills
As a Nursery teacher, you will have to collaboratewith a group of people for the well-being and
development of the children. For instance, you haveto organise and sit with the child’s
parents, individually and as a group to provide feedbackand discuss challenges.
Also, you will often have to collaborate with thetherapist, social workers and of course, the
administrative staffs.
6. Administrative skills
Apart from daily, weekly and monthly reporting, someother administrative tasks could be
assigned to you. How professionally you deal withthem could be a determining factor in your
career progress at an upper management position. Somebasic administrative skillsare always
expected from a professional, regardless of the jobsector.
7. Empathy and Patience
Empathy is a human virtue, which basically means puttingyourself in other people’s shoe to
understand their emotional and rational perspective.It will help you immensely while dealing
with the children.
If you can’t do that and have a lack of patience,you will become unapproachable.It means,
this career is not for you.
Along with these, some basic organisation skills andagood sense of humourwill make your
life easier as an early years’ teacher.
Career Prospects As A Nursery Teacher

11. After gaining some experience in a childhood education setting, and some additional training in
professional development, you can move up to a managementrole.
You can also work towards primary school educationor higher by gaining QTS. There are also
job opportunitiesas a supply teacher and play therapist.
If you are interested in working with Special EducationalNeeds Children, read this article to
explore your option:Skills and Qualifications Requiredto Become a SEN Teacher
Challenges in The Life of an Early Years’ Teacher
It’s a no-brainer that, your job responsibility requiredyou to have to deal with lots of energetic
children. The jumping around, snots, tears, slipperyfloor, paint and the brawls, all these can be
exhaustive.

12. Some kids may have learning difficulties orspecial educational needs, you have to pay special
care to their development. The effort to keep thechildren’s attention, solving unique problems
can be tiring. The long hours will feel longer andthe repetitive routines will feel like a bore.
Not to mention thedemanding parents, who can oftenact as their children!
But imagine the difference you would be making intheir life! The opportunity of preparing the
children for years ahead in the futureto become aresponsible generationis a privilege. In
addition, the presence of joy and innocence of thelittle ones will take over these apparent
obstacles.
And if you can develop some organisational skills,you will have a better balance in your life as a
Nursery Teacher and overcome any of these issues.
Salary of a Nursery Teacher
An early years’ teacher’s pay varies from region toregion and institutions. But on average a
nursery teacher gets around£19000per annum at thebeginning.
With further experience and qualification, you canget around£22000 – £30000as you progress
in your career. In a managerial and supervisory role,you will be paid a better honorarium.
To Conclude
A Nursery Teacher’s career is not for everyone. Thesole idea behind this role is to develop the
childrensocially, emotionally and physically forthe following years.This requires you to
have genuine compassion and the essential skill setsto work with the children.
Albeit there will be challenges, like any other job.But at the end of the day, you will go to sleep
knowing, you are making a difference in their andlife. Your contribution in the early years is to
lay the foundation to whatever they become in thefuture. Essentially, you are preparing humans
for a better world!