Childcare and early years practitioner careers
Working in a Nursery or a Pre-School
Nurseries provide full day care, early years education and play for children aged between 0-5 years.
Pre-Schools provide early years education, care, and play for young children aged from 2 to 5 years. Both follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum.
There are opportunities to work full-time, part-time, term-time and on a voluntary basis.
Some early years settings offer wraparound provision for children at local schools, please see the 'Working in an out of school club – Wraparound childcare' section for more information on that role.
What would I do?
To start with you would typically be working as a practitioner under the supervision of a Leader or Supervisor.
Daily tasks could include:
- encouraging children to develop social skills
- supporting learning through play
- creating a safe and secure environment for children to learn
- feeding, preparing bottles, bathing and dressing babies, changing nappies
- responsibility for a small group of children as a Key Person
- building relationships with parents and carers
- observing, assessing and planning the child’s learning and development
- consulting and liaising with teams and other health professionals (i.e., Health Workers, Social Workers)
- attending training and team meetings
In a managerial role you would also be supervising staff and looking after the business side of things including finance, recruitment, training and development of staff, working closely with parents/carers and promoting the childcare setting.
What skills and experience do I need?
- have a genuine interest in the care and development of young children
- have patience
- be motivated and enthusiastic
- be committed to safeguarding
- be warm and friendly
- have a positive approach to training and development.
Volunteering is an excellent way to get experience of working in childcare or early years setting. The Hampshire Family Information and Services Hub directory has details of early years childcare settings in your area.
What qualifications do I need?
Depending on the setting you are working in as a practitioner, you will need to work towards achieving a minimum Level 2 early years practitioner qualification. All Level 2 early years practitioner qualifications will need to meet the minimum criteria. It is possible to start without a specific childcare qualification if employers know that you are willing to attend training.
As a Manager, Supervisor or Leader you would need to have a minimum Level 3 qualification such as the Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification or equivalent and would need to hold demonstrable experience of working in a similar setting. . Depending on your circumstances you may be eligible for a funded Level 3 qualification.
Progression
You would be encouraged to develop your skills and qualifications through regular continued professional development and training. This could be via work-based qualifications, short courses and e-learning. You could progress from a Level 2 to the Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification. This would enable you to apply for a Leader, Supervisor or Managerial post. You could then work towards a Foundation Degree or Degree in Early Childhood Studies and/or Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT). [Please note, to undertake a Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification and work in an Early Years setting, you must be at least 16 years old, hold a Level 2 qualification in English and Mathematics (GCSE A*-C/4-9 or Functional Skills).]
Please ensure you check the qualification is full and relevant - Check early years qualifications - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)