Teachers are paid more than nursery nurses because they undergo a demanding four-year training at degree level and take ultimate responsibility for a class; the buck stops with them. They deserve a decent wage.
So do nursery nurses. They are extremely valuable staff, and I would argue for at least one nursery nurse with a class of nursery, reception or Year 1 children, as their training and experience is appropriate for this age group. They have a vital role to play, and a good early years teacher will use this to the children's advantage by involving the nursery nurse in the planning, monitoring and everyday running of the class.
However, the teacher's background knowledge, experience and vision of where the children are going underpins the planning. People are paid according to responsibility, so although nursery nurses should be paid much better than they are, they do not carry the same level of responsibility and so their pay will reflect that.
As an early years supply teacher, I work one regular day a week with reception/Year 1. I taught Key Stage 2, and I did the Pre-school Learning Alliance Diploma in Pre-School Practice for two years while working in playgroups, and then spent two years as a school nursery nurse before going back to teaching. If I hadn't done that I couldn't have taught this age group.
I go in on supply confident that I have worked hard to 'know my stuff' with this age and do not rely on support staff to run my lessons, though I appreciate their help and support with routines and their knowledge of the children, which helps me to do my best for them.
Headteachers should request a specialist early years supply teacher when one is needed; we do exist and are happy to teach this age group effectively in harmony with the nursery nurses. Dare I say, we are not even failed teachers who can't get a job; many of us do this to fit round family commitments because we do care about children - our own and our charges.
