We adore our Teachers and the passion and enthusiasm they show each day. The work they do and the passion they show in helping to prepare children for school – and life – is so incredibly valuable. So we wanted to learn more about some of our Teachers and share with you why they do what they do.
You can also read about Jess Armitt: Teacher at Guardian Munro St.
Why did you decide to get a job or pursue a career in childcare?
I always wanted to be a teacher, and initially was aiming for the primary school sector. However, as part of my early childhood degree I did placements in different areas, and after doing my primary school placement I realised that education doesn’t start at primary school, but in early childhood education.
At primary school, you could easily tell which children had experienced high-quality early childhood education and which children hadn’t. I decided then that I wanted to work with children earlier in their learning journey to help get them started and really establish that love of learning for life that would serve them at primary school and beyond.
What do you like about working in the childcare sector?
Simply, I love the children! I work with children that are around 4-5 years of age, and I find them so quirky and funny and smart. I have been in the childcare sector for about 20 years now, but I find that the children are always teaching me new things.
What qualifications did you start with, and have you studied any others since?
I did a 4-year bachelor’s degree of Early Childhood Education at University of South Australia.
Overall, what are the job opportunities like in this industry?
There are plenty of job opportunities in the childcare industry. Centres are always needing lots of Teachers in the field, and as time is going on there has been more of a push to get Teachers in all the different age group rooms which is great news for both Teachers and the children who are benefitting from this focus on education as opposed to just care.
What do you like about working for Guardian?
I like their approach to education and the curriculum. Guardian puts an emphasis on learning right from birth – it’s not just about caring for the children. I also like that all the Centres are streamlined, which means that all Guardian children are getting the same quality early education.
I feel very cared for as a staff member. For instance, Guardian handled the COVID situation very well. They tried to make it as fair as possible for everyone, and they kept people employed. The wellbeing of staff, parents and children was also a high priority, and we were all kept informed with daily emails with updates on procedures and policies.
What’s something about working in the early childhood education sector that many people might be surprised about/don’t know?
Even parents are surprised at how capable their children are, and they are surprised at what we teach their children from such a young age. We focus on real-world learning and we teach the children at a surprising level of depth. Children are so competent and capable, and they have an incredible desire to learn.