Leaving On Good Terms
How to resign well from your early education and care role.
BY BONNIE LAXTON-BLINKHORN, KINDICARE
With little hearts on the line, leaving a role in an early education and care service is not always easy.
Many early childhood educators become very close to the children in their care and the teams they work in, and parents and carers develop strong attachments to the people charged with the responsibility of caring for their children.
But all good things come to an end and leaving a position often signals a new beginning.
Resigning well will mean you can say proper farewells to the children and families in your community as well as your team. Importantly, it will also leave a favourable impression with your boss and hopefully mean the door is open if you’d ever like to return.
Here’s how to stage the perfect resignation!
1. Talk the talk before you walk the walk
While you do need to provide your boss with resignation letter, stating your intention to leave and the date of your notice period, without a doubt the best way to advise your boss you are leaving is to talk to them.
Request a meeting at a mutually convenient time and let them know your plans.
These conversations aren’t always easy as your manager could well be disappointed to be losing you, but if you are confident, assertive and honest, then your boss will accept your decision, even if they miss you.
Your letter of resignation should include:
- the date of your last day of work
- a statement explaining you intention to resign
- a short reason why you are leaving
- acknowledgement of the experiences and opportunities you had while employed at the centre
You can leave the letter with your manager after you have spoken to them.
2. Give your boss plenty of notice
Unless you are a casual, or have a contract that stipulates otherwise, there are minimum notice periods you should adhere to when resigning from your role. This is to minimise disruption and to give your boss the best possible chance to organise someone to do your job after you leave.
Under the Children’s Services Award minimum notice periods when resigning are:
It’s important to note that your boss can deduct wages if you don’t give the correct amount of notice, so be sure to keep this in mind if you are leaving for a new job and need to negotiate a start date with your new employer.
Apart from being lawful and professional, working a notice period will ensure you have sufficient time to tie up loose ends and advise the children and families you work with you are leaving (more on this below).
3. Share the news
Early education and care isn’t like other jobs, the relationships formed between educators and families are strong and based on love and trust. Saying goodbye can be very hard, especially for younger children who may struggle to adjust to the idea that they won’t see you anymore.
This is when a longer notice period can help; introduce children to the slowly via picture books and gentle discussions in group time, answer their questions, tell them how much you’ve enjoyed looking after them.
Consider a small ceremony for your last day or a special event that marks the end of your time with the children, you could plant a tree or create a memory mural together.
Writing a letter to parents that can be distributed via the service newsletter or shared via the socials could be helpful. Use the letter to explain why you are leaving and to remind them how much you’ve enjoyed being a part of their family’s life. If possible, reassure them about the transition process.
4. Be present until the end
Remember, resigning well means the door will always be open to you, to this end it’s important to be professional and present until the very last minute in your current position.
This might be hard if you are heading into your dream job, off to see the world, or to have your own baby, but it’s very beneficial and will ensure the good reputation you’ve built isn’t spoiled.
Stay positive and professional, remain focused on your day-to-day responsibilities and enjoy the last few days and weeks with the children you care for. The time will fly no matter how excited you are for what’s on the horizon.
5. Check your final pay
One last job after you’ve worked your notice period is to check your final pay and make sure you have received all your entitlements.
You might receive your final pay right after you finish up or in the next pay run, but be sure to check your payslip and confirm you received payment for:
- Outstanding wages for hours work, including penalties and overtime
- Payment for time off in lieu of overtime, if accumulated instead of paid as overtime it will be paid out
- Payment for annual leave you haven’t taken and annual leave loading if applicable
- Accrued or pro rata long service leave if applicable
