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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business

I'm getting too old to teach nursery children, what can I do?

Children in nursery
At 55, I'm not going to be able to crawl around on the floor with 3- to 4-year-olds for much longer. Photograph: The Photolibrary Wales/Alamy

Twice a week we publish the problems that will feature in a forthcoming Dear Jeremy advice column in the Guardian Money supplement so that readers can offer their own advice and suggestions. We then print the best of your comments alongside Jeremy's own insights. Here is the latest dilemma – what are your thoughts?

I am a 55-year-old nursery teacher who is rapidly realising that I am not going to be able to crawl around on the floor with three- to four-year-olds or sit on tiny chairs for the next 10-plus years. I do not want to teach older children as it would go against my pedagogical philosophy, or adults, as you lose authenticity so rapidly once out of the classroom.

I need a stimulating job to take me to retirement and that is also transferable to another area of the country.

• Do you need advice on a work issue? For Jeremy's and readers' help, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or reply personally

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