Report RE: jobs available after a BA early childhood studies degree?

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by: kirsty_footy

Hiya,

Thanks to everyone who has posted on this subject, it's good to hear your views as I'm in the same dilema! I'm currently in my second year of BA Early Childhood studies and previously obtained the BTEC National Diploma in Early Years.

I've worked with children for about 5 years and after 2 1/2 years at a Montessori setting I thought I would try my skills in a different Environment. I can honestly say that my job search was not hard at all, with offers of jobs coming minutes after emailing settings. Some even offered me the job without a proper interview! But what I did find is that all of them see highly qualified practitioners as a freebie bonus. I applied around May time, the lead up to the implmentation of the EYFS- so most settings were just keen for me to go in and 'fix it for them'.

After lots of offers I had to settle for a relatively small salary. This is fine with me, I can honestly say I'm in this profession for the children, but it's just so sad the divide between teachers and Early years professionals. At the setting I'm currently in they have a QTS in preschool who was sitting down with the children for hours doing maths and literacy, but now through my help has now understood the importance of play and less teacher led activities. This example just goes to show how wrong some settings have it. I feel the LA's havn't educated settings into the importance of having highly qualified staff , either that or their just holding out until they have to have them.

One other question, do you know if you have to have English, maths and science GCSE at grade C to be eligible for EYPS, and also what colleges/universities offer it on a fastrack basis? Thanks

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