Early years teacher

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• working towards this role

University

You'll need to get early years teacher status (EYTS) and meet the teachers' standards by completing a course in early years initial teacher training (EYITT).

There are several ways to do this:

• study an undergraduate degree in a subject related to early childhood studies or child development, along with course placements
• take an EYITT course after you finish your first degree
• complete part-time teacher training, if you already have a degree and are working in an early years setting

You can also have your teaching skills assessed over 3 months to make sure you meet the teachers' standards. For this route, you must be a graduate with a lot of work experience across the 0 to 5 age range, and have knowledge of key stages 1 and 2 in schools.

Early years teacher status qualifies you to teach children up to age 5. If you want to teach older children, or teach in a primary school, you'll usually need to get qualified teacher status (QTS) .

Entry requirements:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Entry requirements:

Entry requirements:

Work

You could work your way into this role by starting as nursery worker or teaching assistant and doing a part-time degree in childhood studies or child development.

Volunteering

You'll usually need experience of working with children and young people.

You can get this through:

• paid work
• volunteering at a school
• youth work
• a holiday scheme

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Skills:

• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• sensitivity and understanding
• the ability to work well with others
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• to be flexible and open to change
• excellent verbal communication skills
• active listening skills
• customer service skills
• knowledge of English language
• the ability to create the best conditions for learning or teaching new things
• thinking and reasoning skills
• the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
• the ability to teach pupils how to do something
• knowledge of psychology
• concentration skills
• knowledge of geography
• a good memory
• maths skills

What you'll do:

Early years teachers are specialists in early childhood development and work with children up to the age of 5.

As an early years teacher, you'll:

• plan and prepare activities, materials and lessons
• teach children in a safe and positive environment
• speak to parents and carers about their children’s development
• monitor children’s progress and report any issues
• work with colleagues on curriculum planning
• supervise nursery workers, teaching assistants and volunteer helpers

Location : You could work in a nursery or at a school.
Environment : Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.
Uniform : You may need to wear a uniform.

Salary:

Starter : £30,000
Experienced : £47,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

32 - 40 hours variable

Working Pattern is between 8am and 6pm on a rota

Career Path:

Once qualified, you could:

• move into management of a nursery or group of nurseries
• work as a supply teacher
• do further training to become a primary school teacher or play therapist
• move into teaching early years courses at university