What are the major responsibilities of a preschool teacher?

Question

I am a licensed child care provider. I have been thinking about getting a job in a day care center. What are the major responsibilities of a preschool teacher? What are the educational standards, certifications or requirements needed?

Answer 1

Professional childcare workers should have sound academic background in order that children in their care receive  the appropriate level of care/educational experiences. Any course/level you consider should contain developmental and social psychology components plus studies in early education. Unfortunately it is presumed that preschool teacher's don't require degrees, a sad reflection of young children's statues in society. Courses and requirements vary from country to country but globally there is growing acknowledgment among academics and governments that at least a specialist primary degree is preferable. Provisions with low level staff qualifications have little to offer children, the higher the academic qualifications the better children do.

Answer 2

I am based in uk, so depending on where you are situated this may or may not be of help to you.

To work as a pre-school teacher, you need to be qualified to degree level with a post grad: QTS or recently introduced: EYPS. In uk, day care is also reliant on nursery officers, with NVQ in childcare or NNEB, BTEC, etc;

We need to be familiar with the national standards for daycare and in Sept 2008, a new framework will be in place called the Early Years Foundation Stage which sets out the statutory and non statutory guidlines for practice.

The main responsibilities for a pre school teacher are to plan and provide personalised learning experiences for the children in their care, based on the observations of those children, enabling environments and ensuring that a range of activities are provided to facilitate all areas of learning, to work in partnership with parents, the local community and other professionals, to ensure that children's safety and well being are paramount and to be aware of the varied and unique ways in which children learn and develop. Hope this helps, and would also say that it is an intensely satisfying career. Good luck