what next?

[louisem06]

i am currently a nursery nurse but im bored of it!! i wish to do something different such as youth work or speech therapy, but the only problem is im skint. ive got debts 2 pay and a house. as anybody got any advice?

[saxy_jag]

What about becoming a teaching assistant in a school? It's changed since I did the job, but I worked in a special school and ended up running the youth club there as well as carrying out physio programmes and the like. You'd get to support pupils in any or several areas. Your nursery nurse training should have prepared you well enough for the work.

Teaching assistants these days get proper, nationally recognised training (NVQ?) as part of the job and I think there's the opportunity to work towards a foundation degree.

[Tups]

It used to be the case that if you are over 25, there are all sorts of grants and awards available to you. Doubtless, there are awards available if you are younger than that too. If you have an NVQ in Nursery Nursing (?) that will give you points towards accessing Higher Education courses. I would recommend you visit a Connexions Centre and discussed the situation. They have all the information at their fingertips. Or visit their website:
http://www.connexions-direct.com/

I know they advertise themselves for helping teenagers - perhaps you are one? - but they also help older people.