Working in Childcare Industry (Fetac Montessori courses)

FixdePitchmark

Hi,

I'm posting this for my wife (Not on Boards) - It is the only idea we could come up with.

My wife is in 30s and wants to work with children. We don't know anybody working with kids or in the industry. She has much experience with children - but not as a job.

She is looking at doing a course on Northside. Ideally not full time - but if this is what it takes she is going to do it. Ideally a couple of hours a week for a year - for example a course of only 25 weeks , 1 day a week is available in Colaiste Dhulaigh - another course in Killester.

She has been surprised at the difference in the courses - some are full time , some are 25 weeks - 2 to 5 - seems to be many ways into what effectively looks the same job. Sorry this may be my naivety

So any ideas of the best approach

I've suggested do basic course - try work in it and see if it is for her - then if she wants to progress , do a higher level course after a years experience.

Any other issues about industry she needs to know. She is not really entering it for the money - it is more a love of children and a way into education.

I think she is mad - but if it keeps here happy

Thanks a million.

Mrs OBumble

She needs to check out the planned changes to regullations re courses that staff are required to have.

The days of being able to work in early-childhood education having done one short or part-time FETAC course are numbered. BUT it's stil quite a big number I think, so she may well be able to do a short course, work for a year, and then do a longer one if she hasn't been put off by the long hours, low pay and sheer hard physical work of runnign around after small children.

That said, I'm not exactly sure where to look. But we had a poster here a few weeks ago giving out about regulation changes being applied from next year which mean she has to get qualified.

FixdePitchmark

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

She needs to check out the planned changes to regullations re courses that staff are required to have.

The days of being able to work in early-childhood education having done one short or part-time FETAC course are numbered. BUT it's stil quite a big number I think, so she may well be able to do a short course, work for a year, and then do a longer one if she hasn't been put off by the long hours, low pay and sheer hard physical work of runnign around after small children.

That said, I'm not exactly sure where to look. But we had a poster here a few weeks ago giving out about regulation changes being applied from next year which mean she has to get qualified.

Thanks for the quick reply - I expressed this line to her exactly

"long hours, low pay and sheer hard physical work of runnign around after small children."

Mr. Loverman

My first girlfriend studied Montessori (the Maria Montessori Method, not a childcare course). She had a learning disability so I helped her with the entire course over a three year period... so weirdly I know loads about the Montessori Method...

Couple of things to know:

Proper Montessori is not childcare. It is not creche work. It is a proper education system which really gives children an advantage.

The reason you see so many "Montessori" courses of varying lengths is because most of them are creche courses. They just use the Montessori word but really they're just childcare.

If your wife really wants to be a Montessori teacher and not a creche worker, she needs to seriously consider studying here: http://www.montessoriami.ie/

FixdePitchmark

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

My first girlfriend studied Montessori (the Maria Montessori Method, not a childcare course). She had a learning disability so I helped her with the entire course over a three year period... so weirdly I know loads about the Montessori Method...

Couple of things to know:

Proper Montessori is not childcare. It is not creche work. It is a proper education system which really gives children an advantage.

The reason you see so many "Montessori" courses of varying lengths is because most of them are creche courses. They just use the Montessori word but really they're just childcare.

If your wife really wants to be a Montessori teacher and not a creche worker, she needs to seriously consider studying here: http://www.montessoriami.ie/

Thanks so much - we really need to know that sort of stuff. It seems an unusual area - with very different qualification standards and how long courses are.
Confusing if anything. Or rather unstandardised.

Mrs OBumble

And montessori may be accepted as an educational approach here, but there are some countries where a Montessori course will not be recognised tas a qualification to work as an early childhood educator because its regarded as inadequate. I dont understand why, just know a bunch of teachers who dont rate it.

FixdePitchmark

Sorry for bumping - is there any other thread that this would be good in

dauhee

I'd say unless she wants to work in a creche, skip the montesorry training. my gf did her 4 year degree and worked for about 8 years but cant find a montesorry teaching position for years as there are very few primary schools around the country that do it (private). The qualification isn't recognised by the government so if she wants to teach in national school then needs to do further course, I think another year of irish and spend time in gaoeltacht. So 5 years total compared to 3 years of normal teaching degree.

just my 2 cents

MouseTail

at a minimum she will need a full FETAC level 5 in childcare, ideally level -6 so she can work in a supervisory capacity- www.qualifax.ie