- What should a parent look for in a nursery school teacher?
Introduction
What makes a good nursery teacher and why should a parent look at the qualities of a nursery teacher? We ask what does make a good nursery teacher. There is no argument about the fact that early year education is probably the most important stage of education for any child. Studies have demonstrated that the experiences a child has at this stage foster their desire and aptitude for learning. Hence, you must pay careful attention to the school you choose for your preschooler at the EYFS level.
However, a school is only as good as its teachers and administrator. Therefore, when looking for a great nursery school for your preschooler, don’t get swayed by just the facilities and the infrastructure available at the school. Ask around from other parents about their experiences with the teachers and support staff of the school. Your child’s experience of the school will be largely determined by the teachers and care staff at the school. So, you cannot send your child blindly to a school-based only on their past reputation and infrastructure. The qualities of their Nursery Teachers should be the most important determiner for choosing a play school for your toddler.
What makes a good nursery teacher and what Qualities should they have?
As mentioned before in our blogs, this is the most important of all developmental stages for a child. It is at this stage the child learns to express, socialize and communicate. Progress is the fastest at this stage, hence, the teacher or carers have to be supportive and encouraging at this stage to help the child realize his/her full potential at later stages in life. This is why it is important not to have just good teachers but the best teachers at this stage of life.
Kids who have high-quality education at this stage are:
Better integrated into society
Motivated to do better in life
Are self-reliant
Less likely to be involved in criminal or anti-social activities.
Now that we know the importance of quality teachers at EYFS, it is time to find out what are the qualities of an excellent teacher.
Qualities of a Star Nursery Teacher
Not everyone is cut out to be great with young children. They require much greater care and attention than older children. Hence, parents need to look for the following qualities in their children’s daycare and nursery teachers.
Patience: this has to be the most important quality of a nursery teacher. Parents usually have to take care of only one young child and they can get exhausted. Now imagine a class full of energetic children, you get the drift of what a teacher has to deal with. It is a hard task and requires immense patience from a teacher to not lose her cool and deal with a group of rambunctious, naughty, moody, irritable, and emotional children.
The teacher needs to be able to handle emergencies and challenges in a calm and cool manner. He/she should be able to turn chaotic moments into positive and teaching moments. They need to keep tight control over their own emotions and feelings and deal with the incessant demands of a class full of curious kids, each with his/her own individual demands and learning capabilities.
Passionate About Their Job: A teacher who is passionate about his/her job and loves it, is the teacher you want for your child. Such a teacher is devoted to her craft and will find various ways to improve it and be more effective at it. If you feel a teacher is dispassionate about her job and treats it as just a means to make a living, she is not going to make the effort to make learning enjoyable or take interest in her students.
Enjoys Being With Young Kids: Some people have an innate knack for dealing with young children. They love children and their company. These are the people who make the best Nursery teachers. When a teacher enjoys being with the children he/she teaches, the classroom becomes a happy place where the child feels wanted and safe.
Nurturing, Compassionate, and Caring: Besides patience, children also need to feel loved, cared for, and nurtured in school. This can only happen if the teacher and the staff have a nurturing and caring attitude. They need to understand each child and his/her capabilities to be able to help the child properly. This extends not only to their time and life in school but also to understanding their lives at home.
Knowledgeable and Well Trained: A teacher needs to be well versed in his/her craft to be able to give their best to their students. This is especially true for Nursery Teachers who need to be properly trained to understand the requirements of the children at this age and how to impart knowledge in a manner that is comprehensible to the young child. The teacher needs to have educational qualifications in pre-school teaching with knowledge of child development, psychology, curriculum, class management, and teaching. You should look for a teacher who is trained in pre-primary education for your child.
Communication Skills: A preschool teacher needs to have excellent communication skills to be able to deal with kids and their parents. She should be easy to understand and teach in a manner that is conducive to the learning abilities of her students. Should have the creativity to convey complex concepts in an easy-to-understand manner. She should also be able to listen to children and understand their body language too.
Observant and Flexible: The teacher needs to be able to understand all the children in her class and be available for them. This can only happen if she is observant and can mould herself to the need of the hour. Observation and flexibility are essential qualities of a good nursery teacher.
Besides these qualities, there are other things that you need to look for in a good teacher. These are being creative, energetic, organized, and experienced.
Conclusion
We can only do so much research about our children’s teachers, the rest we can only learn once the child starts attending school. However, if you feel your child’s teacher is not good enough you should always approach the school management with your observations. We at GGN have a very stringent process for hiring of teaching and caring staff. You will find our teachers to possess all the qualities of a good teacher mentioned in this article.https://www.naeyc.org/resources/blog/advice-new-preschool-teacher
https://www.cadence-education.com/blog/parents-corner/what-makes-a-good-preschool-teacher/
Arwa Naccho
CEO
Green Grass Nursery
