Working in childcare

Working with children is a fast-growing profession offering plenty of variety and great prospects. These pages aim to introduce the kind of roles and training available and help answer two basic questions:

What type of work would suit me?
What should I do next?

What type of work would suit me?

Firstly, think about the age group you want to work with. Work with children aged from birth up to five years is usually called 'early years' and includes nursery nurses, playgroup and creche workers. Work with over fives outside school hours is normally called 'playwork' and includes working in before and after school or holiday clubs. You should consider whether you want to work full or part time. View more information about the different roles available.

What should I do next?

So you've decided what type of work might be suitable for you - but what's the next step?

Experience
Before committing yourself to a job or training, it might be helpful to get some experience working with the age group that interests you. Local playgroups, church groups and holiday playschemes usually welcome volunteers. It may also be possible to gain experience on a voluntary basis in other settings (you will probably need a Criminal Records Check (CRB) before you can volunteer in a setting. Find out more about volunteering.

Training
To work in the childcare field, it is recommended that you gain a childcare qualification. Some courses will require full time attendance at college (e.g. CACHE Diploma/NNEB) with some of your time spent with children in a placement. Other courses may be completed by part-time attendance at college while you are working. If you are currently unemployed Jobcentre Plus may be able to fund certain training courses, check with your local job centre advisor.

Current childcare job vacancies

Play Leader, 2 Kool 4 Skool at Holly House Day Nursery, see full job advert and how to apply in the downloadable document below.

Back to careers in childcare