Any early childhood teachers out there?

[Emma09]

Thanks for your help.
One of the issues I have, is if I do the course and end up working in a childcare centre- what my earning potential would be....


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[HotI]

You would be awesome at it! but i don't think the earning potential is very high in that area.

[MrsFabuloso]

I am. I have been an ECT in a LDC and Pre School, on the floor teaching the kids. I have been a director of a LDC and a multipurpose centre. I have also had the opportunity to be a FDC coordinator, as well as an OOSH coordinator (both while I've been a SAHM and haven't wanted work).
There are alot of positions you can get. They don't necessarily have to be as an on the floor teacher, though they can be a little difficult to get into sometimes.

[meow]

The salary is pretty poor but there are niggles to get ECTs paid the same as school teachers so surely in 8 years time...

Teaching you can pretty much work in a child care centre or kindergarten. If your degree covers 0-8 year olds you can also teach the first few years of primary school. Non-teaching there are jobs in early childhood management such as long day care directors or accreditation supervisors.

The industry is changing a lot with so many working families and sessional kindergartens may phase out in favour of long day care. Which I find utterly depressing but if you're happy to work in long day care then that's okay. Some teachers in long day (I've noticed in Melbourne) are able to negotiate the same work conditions as kindergarten teachers, so they have less contact teaching hours and school holidays off.

[Emma09]

Thanks so much ladies!
Through helpful google- I have found a bachelor of education (early childhood learning and primary school) - you can teach 0-12 years old. Perfect for me! But the link is broken

Thanks again!

[MrsFabuloso]

Teaching you can pretty much work in a child care centre or kindergarten. If your degree covers 0-8 year olds you can also teach the first few years of primary school. Non-teaching there are jobs in early childhood management such as long day care directors or accreditation supervisors.

That depends on the degree she is studying. My degree is only for teaching 0-5's.

You can also do an adult teaching course as extra and be a tafe/college teacher.

[Emma09]

:-( can't do the 0-12 years degree externally :-(
So disappointing!

I would LOVE to be a kindergarten teacher- but I fear there may not be many positions available for reasons some PP's have mentioned.
If that is the case, and I end up working in a childcare centre, not my first preference due to long hours and poor pay, then I may as well have just done a Diploma in children's services IYKWIM?

[meow]

You do get more pay and better conditions as a teacher compared to a diploma in long day care. Teachers are on a different award so you're entitled to more planning hours which is good... and like I said you can often negotiate extra holidays.

[KimmyF]

Emma09 as of next year (I think) all LDC centres in Vic have to employ someone with a Bachelor qualification for a minimum of 20 hours a week, now I know in regional Vic there will not be enough people with the qual to go around. Also from 2013 (if it all stays the same) all Vic kindergartens will have to offer 15hours of funded kindergarten a week for 4 year old kinder, this means that where one kinder teacher has taught two groups of children for kinder they wont be able to anymore as there will be too many preparation hours and contact hours for their working week. So my point is there will be heaps of work in the next few years for kinder teachers, and a lot of it may be part time. The 15 hours is necesarily definate at this stage but having a bachelor qualified person in all LDC centres is. Good luck

Edit - just wanted to clarify that all of the above only applies in Victoria

[MrsFabuloso]

:-( can't do the 0-12 years degree externally :-(
So disappointing!

I would LOVE to be a kindergarten teacher- but I fear there may not be many positions available for reasons some PP's have mentioned.
If that is the case, and I end up working in a childcare centre, not my first preference due to long hours and poor pay, then I may as well have just done a Diploma in children's services IYKWIM?

You can, but you have to do the 0-5yrs one first. I did and will be trying to get into the primary teaching one for next yr.

[Amaunet]

There are 0-8 quals around. B.Teach is offered by distance at UNE in NSW. If you are employed in a school (in NSW) you may find that while you are initially employed to teach infants (kinder to year 2) you are actually "allowed" to teach in the Primary classes. The earning potential in schools is much higher than in preschool/daycare setting and I honestly can't see it changing, as how will the centers afford it?

[Emma09]

You can, but you have to do the 0-5yrs one first. I did and will be trying to get into the primary teaching one for next yr.

Just on this- how many years extra study is it to add to your qualifications?

[Floweryfields]

Earning potential in childcare is (for first year out) around $22/hr. You also would only receive the 4 weeks annual leave per year and not those that teachers get. Also no paid maternity leave, etc. and conditions aren't as great as possibly in the school setting.

Each year you might go up a $ or so an hour but it ends up getting capped at probably close to the $30 mark - so definitely not the potential you have if you work in a school.

[Emma09]

Thanks ladies- you have certainly given me plenty to think about.
I have previously worked in a primary school as a teachers aide- so I guess I could really weigh up the pro's and con's using those experiences.
I have also thought of furthering those qualifications to kind of dip my toe in the water so to speak.

[Sunny Love]

I did the Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Stdies at ECU Mt Lawley here in Pertn WA. I say do it. Getting a permanent position in a GOVT school over here is very hard, be it full time or part time, there's a lot of teachers compared to the amount of positions. Not sure about your state, but i'd say it would be a similar situation. However, I still say do it. There are lots of avenues, besides a CCC. There's independent schools, like Montessori, then theres private education, that focuses on religion. You could also open your own family daycare.

I'd also like to point out that CCC are evolving in my state. I hope so in yours. Do not count them out for employment. I did have (before DD) a full time position in a CCC as an Early Childhood Teacher. I earnt 52k per annum, same as a graduate teacher in a GOVT school, I held the same responsibility as a teacher would, BUT had more assistants able to input into the the curriculum and assist learning opportunities. CCC are no longer drop-off centres, they are becoming 'leearning environments' for 'very young people'. There is also a push for schooling and kindy to start younger, so you never know in that respect also, job opportunites could increase in the next 4 years.

I do relief work, and love it to bits. In the 3 years since i've graduated i've been offered one permanent position, and I was in labour with DD when it was offered to me over the phone (yes I still took calls! ) I declined. I enjoy relief because it comes with no 'afterhours' burden. I dont mark, asses or report, I just facilitate learning, and be with the kids. Its magical.

Do it, part time or full time. If you have the passion to learn more, then its your current calling.