How to become A Preschool Teacher

When you choose to become a Preschool Teacher, you dedicate your professional life to helping our most precious resources grow into responsible, competent learners. Teaching one child, let alone a whole classroom of young learners, is no simple task.

• Early Years Teacher
• Early Childhood Teacher

What do Preschool Teachers do?

A Preschool Teacher would typically need to:

• Teach children necessary skills such as identifying colors, shapes, numbers, and letters; work with children in groups or one on one; meet the requirements set out by educational authorities
• Provide a safe and secure environment for children to develop their interpersonal and communication skills
• Ensure the health and safety of children and staff is maintained during all activities, inside and outside the nursery or school; provide pastoral care and support
• Assist with the development of a child's personal, social, language, and physical coordination abilities
• Work to inspire, excite, and nurture children across a crucial stage of their development: Develop and use visual aids and teaching resources imaginatively
• Motivate and stimulate a child's learning abilities, often encouraging learning through experience, playing, problem-solving, and experimenting
• Encourage mathematical and creative development; build curiosity, imagination, and knowledge through stories, songs, games, drawing, and imaginative play
• Use play and instructional techniques, such as storytelling and rhyming games, to teach language & vocabulary
• Plan and carry out a curriculum that focuses on different areas of child development; organize activities so children can learn about the world, explore interests, and develop skills
• Observe, assess, and keep records of the children’s progress, routines, and interests, and inform parents about their child’s development
• Watch for signs of emotional or developmental problems in each child and bring them to the attention of the child’s parents
• Work with children from different ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds; teach children how to respect people from different backgrounds and cultures
• Work with teaching assistants, nurses, and volunteer helpers to plan and coordinate work both indoors and outdoors; attend staff meetings and staff training days
• Keep up to date with changes in the curriculum and developments in best practice; share knowledge gained with other practitioners; build and maintain relationships with parents
• Develop schedules and routines to ensure children have enough physical activity and rest
• Focus on the all-round development of the children to prepare them for a successful transition to primary school

Preschool Teachers often work indoors; outdoor activities include supervision during free time or recreation activities. You will work in close quarters with very young children in a noisy and emotionally charged atmosphere.

Other childcare professionals, especially nursery nurses, may form part of your work team. Travel during the working day is rare, except for occasional home visits or school trips.

Preschool Teachers may work part-time or full-time, but your hours will vary depending on your work setting. They could be up to 40 hours a week if working full-time. Since nurseries can be open from 7.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m., you will likely need to cover shifts within the early morning, day, or early evening hours.

Preschool Teachers in public schools generally work during regular school hours. Many work the traditional ten-month school year and have a two-month break during the summer unless you choose to participate in the summer programs.

Some Preschool Teachers may opt for a rotational schedule; depending on the location, they work for a few weeks in a row and then take a short summer break before starting a new school session.

Those working in daycare settings may work year-round with longer hours. Extra hours, sometimes unpaid, may also be required for planning and non-classroom duties such as staff meetings, inspections, and parent consultations

Contact the careers service at the institution where you gained your teaching qualifications for details of vacancies in early years settings or contacts of potential employers. Self-employment is possible, as well as freelance work as an early years consultant .Finding a new job might seem challenging. Preschool Teachers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting employers directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Preschool Teachers are generally employed by:

• Public & Private Nurseries
• Public & Private Preschools
  Public & Private Elementary Schools
• Children’s Centers & Daycare Facilities
• Individual & Family Services

Professional associations and organizations like the Association for Childhood Education International (ICEI) are crucial for Preschool Teachers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• The need for a constant flow of patience and physical stamina while working with young, active children
• The need to be creative and energetic enough to balance personal life with vital paperwork and work-related activities after regular work hours
• The high probability of catching infections from young children due to close contact with a multitude over an extended period
• The need to deal with parents of various dispositions and concerns in a calm, diplomatic and reassuring manner
• Regular exposure to distracting levels of sound and noise

Fieldwork is often the cornerstone of a teacher education program, whether the program is a bachelor’s degree in teacher education or a post-baccalaureate credentialing or certification program.

The entire program may require 300 to 500 hours, with a specified percentage of those hours spent in actual classroom instruction. The location of your experiences will vary, although the majority of them will likely be with the grade you are preparing yourself to teach. Most programs require that a candidate spend some time in all classes and also ensure that they gather some experience with special needs children.

Most accrediting organizations and employers require significant but variable work experience in a childcare setting from their promising Preschool Teachers.

Where ITE is a prerequisite, you will need to undergo a probationary teaching year. 

In other locations, entry-level work as a childcare worker or teacher assistant will fulfill this requirement under a licensed teacher’s supervision. Another option is to volunteer in schools and shadow teachers, assistants, and admin staff or become a private tutor or reading mentor.

Other relevant experience includes volunteering at a local playgroup or play scheme or work that shows you have provided care and supported the children’s development. Volunteer opportunities may also include local sports, activity, or youth clubs and work at after-school, summer, or holiday clubs. You could spend your summer working as an au pair or helping out at youth theatre groups.

Visit nurseries and schools to observe and talk to Preschool Teachers.

Seasoned Preschool Teachers will advise you that relevant experience with children is vital. Gaining experience in social work, children’s nursing, and counseling may prove difficult because of the sensitive nature of the work. However, any experience working with children will undoubtedly give you an edge whether you seek further studies or a job.

Volunteering at children’s centers, children’s hospices, hospital children’s wards, or relevant charities should also prove helpful. You may also choose to volunteer to work abroad, which would expand your work and cultural experience.

Make the best use of your university, personal and professional contacts when looking for work experience. Speculative applications to local organizations and groups should also bring positive results

Education requirements vary based on settings and regulations across various geographic locations. Preschool Teachers are generally required to have at least a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field. Those with a degree in a related field must have experience teaching preschool-age children.

Bachelor’s degree programs include instructions on children’s development, health and safety, nutrition, child psychology, and observing and documenting children’s progress. Familiarity with educational techniques and methods for teaching young children, classroom management techniques, spreadsheet software, data entry software, as well as educational software and equipment can prove to be very helpful.

While a master’s degree in early childhood education is also an option, it is not a requirement, and there is no guarantee that this will lead to significant benefits.

Other locations may seek aspiring Preschool Teachers who have an Initial Teacher Education (ITE) qualification. A Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree or a one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) would also prove attractive.

Preschool Teachers need licensure to teach, especially if they opt for public schools.The requirements may vary based on your location but typically require an appropriate bachelor’s degree and a stipulated amount of work experience. 

Certification demonstrates competency in a skill or set of skills, typically through work experience, training, the passage of an examination, or some combination of the three. Certification from an objective and reputed organization can help you gain professional credibility, increase your chances for advancement, and carry a significant salary premium of up to 18 percent. 

Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics. Investigating members that practice outside the Code earns trust and respect, which are the most critical elements in securing a professional’s future.

Some locations may ask you to gain early years teacher status (EYTS) by undergoing one of the accredited Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) programs. EYTS is a specialist qualification that allows you to work with children up to five years old only. 

The entry requirements may differ depending on whether you are an unemployed undergraduate or graduate or an employed graduate. The programs may be available either through university or school-led training.

Typically, applicants will need to declare any previous convictions and undergo a criminal records check through authorized channels. 

All organizations that work or come into contact with children will have policies and procedures to ensure that children are safe. If your qualifications haven't touched on this, completing additional training will be useful.

Children's charities provide child protection training, safer recruitment, working with children and young people, and safeguarding.

Elsewhere, prospective Preschool Teachers may need the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, which requires coursework, experience in the field, a written exam, and observation of the candidate working with children.  

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression.

Preschool Teachers with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education are frequently qualified to teach kindergarten through grade 3, in addition to preschool. Teaching positions at higher grades typically pay more.

Cumulative education and experience will allow you to move into a management role. It could be a staff supervisory role or management of a nursery or group of nurseries. Working as a Preschool Teacher may also lead to local authority advisory roles involving mentoring and assessing teachers and other trainees.

Some locations offer primary school or secondary school teacher positions to Preschool Teachers who achieve qualified teacher status (QTS).Most training options take up to one year to complete.

Further training may qualify you as a play therapist. Some may choose to go on to open a nursery. With additional qualifications and experience, it's possible to specialize in certain areas, such as special educational needs (SEN).

Competition is not very high because there are always new job openings as most Preschool Teachers leave after a few years. Teachers who have experience working with preschool-aged children may have better opportunities to find a job than those without experience.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is a feature of all jobs, especially when teaching young children. The role a Preschool Teacher plays in shaping these young minds is so crucial that they have to stay up to date with significant developments in research, processes, and practices. 

A Preschool Teacher does receive in-service training, either in-house on teacher training days or at regional training centers run by local authorities. Generally, training includes curriculum issues, target setting & assessment, special needs, or pastoral care.

You must take responsibility for your professional development in the regular renewal of certifications and credentials and other areas that may surface during annual performance appraisals.

Keep abreast of all research on children’s learning and development, their early learning goals, assessments, and welfare to accomplish seamless career advancement.

Membership of relevant organizations can provide access to a wide range of benefits, including CPD opportunities, resources, and advice. 

CPD activities include attending training courses and webinars, reading relevant publications, attending events and conferences on early years themes, and researching early years resources to help develop your work. Courses in business management and leadership skills may be helpful if you're looking to move into a management role.

A Preschool Teacher’s career is not everyone’s cup of tea unless you have the attributes and the willingness to take on the physical, emotional, and intellectual challenges of working with young children. 

Have Patience and a Healthy Sense of Humor

You will likely need to explain yourself and give repeated instructions to your very young charges while dealing with distractions. 

When their behavior is exasperating, you will need to hide your frustration, reinforced by the understanding that young children have different mindsets and think, feel, and process things differently from adults.

A healthy and appropriate sense of humor can help Preschool Teachers healthily channel their occupational stress. 

Communicate Well

A judicious blend of confidence, empathy, and authority will allow a Preschool Teacher to ensure their students’ wellbeing and learning are always at the forefront. You also need to be an excellent listener, often reading between the lines and the childrens’ minds with ease.

Be Enthusiastic

A Preschool Teacher must genuinely like working with children and want to spend time with them - if not, the children are quite likely to see through your act and not respond to you or respond with caution and distrust.

Stay Alert & Calm

Unpredictability and curiosity, which are the hallmarks of young children, can have equally unpredictable outcomes. Preschool Teachers must be alert all the time and stay calm to think quickly and respond effectively when a situation turns into a stressful emergency.

Imagination & Creativity

Whichever curriculum you follow, present it to the children creatively to foster their mental and emotional growth. Preschool Teachers must frequently find, use, and create new avenues for the students to express themselves. It should be a journey of mutual inspiration.

Stay Organized and Manage Your Time

Plans have a way of going out of sync when you work with children, which reinforces the need to stay as organized as possible. 

Sessions, lessons, and meetings with staff and parents must all be factored into a Preschool Teacher’s timetable to make sure their day stays on track.

Respect Diversity

Your students and their families will typically present a vastly diverse pool of backgrounds, abilities, and priorities. 

Respecting this diversity will help Preschool Teachers build healthy and respectful relationships and set a worthy example to young and impressionable minds and hearts.

Lead the Community

Your young students will look up to you for guidance as to their adult leader, and so will the community of parents and colleagues. Stay confident, resilient, and sharpen your problem-solving abilities at every step.

How much does a Preschool Teacher make?

On average, a Preschool Teacher makes $38,477 or  £20,113.

Babies and children can laugh up to 300 times a day! Adults typically only laugh at most, about 20 times a day. Adults are missing out on the joy of laughter and smile lines!!

As a Preschool Teacher, your interest and passion for helping young kids and watching them learn and achieve will be among the most heartwarming benefits. On many days, you will spend more time engaging and teaching them while influencing their behavior more than anyone – including their parents.

The connection is vital. You need to spend the time connecting with your students to build trust and a relationship with natural authority before you can expect to get the best behavior out of the students with tactics other than fear.