Further to Rebecca Cullimore's letter about wanting to teach but not being able to give up four years' salary ('Let us teach', 13 November), I have been a qualified nursery nurse for 20 years and once felt exactly the same as her. But three years ago I was taken on at university to do a degree in Education Studies, my place secured by my NNEB and my experience. As a full-time degree entails eight hours a week at university, I was able to keep my job as a nursery nurse in a school three days a week. It has been hard work because there is a lot of reading involved, but it has been very satisfying and enlightening. I have kept a good portion of my salary and have now been offered a place on the PGCE from September, which will give me a bursary of 6,000 a year.
Further to Rebecca Cullimore's letter about wanting to teach but not being able to give up four years' salary ('Let us teach', 13 November), I have been a qualified nursery nurse for 20 years and once felt exactly the same as her. But three years ago I was taken on at university to do a degree in Education Studies, my place secured by my NNEB and my experience. As a full-time degree entails eight hours a week at university, I was able to keep my job as a nursery nurse in a school three days a week.
It has been hard work because there is a lot of reading involved, but it has been very satisfying and enlightening. I have kept a good portion of my salary and have now been offered a place on the PGCE from September, which will give me a bursary of 6,000 a year.
This avenue allows you to follow your dream, yet earn a salary at the same time.
Maria Cullum
Eltham, London
