Many people who enjoy spending time with young children would like to pursue a career in childcare. Nowadays, to become a qualified nursery worker and to be counted in the staff-to-children ratios, you need to have a Level 2 qualification or higher. However, if you have been unemployed for a long time or if you have never held a job at all, this can be difficult.
People of all ages and walks of life decide to pursue a career in childcare and their reasons for doing so will vary. Which category do you fall into?
The Moving On Mum
These women take a long career break to start a family and find that when they return back to work that their job no longer exists, or things have changed so drastically that they feel that they have no option but to resign and move on.
The Career Changer
This is someone who has worked in several different jobs unrelated to childcare and has decided to have a change of career, pursuing childcare as something new and exciting.
The Inspired Mum
Some new mums may decide to take a couple of years out of work to see their children grow up. They soon decide they really enjoy taking care of children and actively decide to get a job in childcare.
The Young School Leaver
A young person who has just finished Year 11 at school. They may have some experience of babysitting, or looking after younger siblings but will never have held a full-time job before.
The First Time Job-er
This is normally someone of graduate calibre, who has finished university and is looking for their very first job. Related degrees such as Health and Social Care would be relevant for working with children.
Here are your options for getting your foot on the childcare employment ladder:
Find volunteer work
Following the successful completion of a DBS (formerly CRB) check into your background, you can be cleared to work with children. Many nurseries and pre-schools are short on resources and would welcome the opportunity to have an extra pair of hands helping them out. The advantage of this, is that if a paid position opens up you could apply immediately for it or the vacancy may be offered to you before it is opened up to anyone else.
Become a childminder
If you are serious about starting up your own childminding business, there are certain training and qualifications that you will need to take beforehand. You will also need to be willing to adapt your house to make it a safe environment to care for a group of children and allow Ofsted to make regular inspections to make sure you are providing a high quality of care.
You can read our guide on the steps you need to take to become a childminder.
Take on work-based training
Work-based training programs, also known as apprenticeships, allow people to gain valuable industry qualifications whilst working in a childcare environment. You need to secure yourself a job in childcare first, and agree with your employer that they will support you to take your childcare qualifications.
The good news is, if you are aged 16-18 when you start an apprenticeship, the government will subsidise 100% of your training costs.
Looking for a job in childcare?
Browse our latest list of childcare jobs and apprenticeships for free on our job board!
Hello, I am looking to change my career. I have been working in a school as a HLTA for 2 years and have been a TA for 3 before that. I wish to go into nursery management. I do not have a childcare level 3- but I do have health and social care level 3 and a BA HONS degree in health studies with social care as my minor at 2:1. Would this be good enough to get a job as a nursery manager?
Hi Nicola, It would be best to contact our recruitment department and they will be able to answer your question. You can send an email to recruiter@parenta.com
Hi, my daughter is currently half way through her level 2 apprenticeship, is it possible to change which nursery she works in half way through ?
Hi Sharon, thank you for your comment. Your daughter can change the setting she is doing her apprenticeship with, but she has to find a new nursery within 30 days, otherwise, all the paperwork will have to be done all over again. I hope this helps 🙂
Hi
I’m currently doing a hairdressing apprenticeship I’m in my second year and babysit every week, I’ve decided hair is not the root is like to go down, I have no childcare qualifications and would like help and advice on how to go forward with this.
Many thanks
Jessie
Hi I am looking to change my career and childcare is something I am interested in. I love children but don’t know how to get started , can you send me information on this thank you Brigit Mcsweeney
Hi my daughter is 16 and looking for childcare work preferably in a nursery. She will be doing a level 2 childcare course in September. Was just wondering if she could apply to work in a nursery before she starts college?
Hi Julie,
We tend to find that people either do an apprenticeship whilst working in a nursery, or they do a college course and then go on to work in a nursery. It’s entirely a personal preference, we’d be happy to get in touch to talk about it further if you’d like?
can I apply for a level 3 childcare job without a level 3 qualification I have a lot of experience and now currently working as a unqualified lunch time cover but I really would like to work on a level 3 level. im just waiting on a traning provider .
Hi,
I am looking for how to get my mum into childcare I want to know what she can do to start her career change.
Can you send me some information please.
Kind regards
Leah McMahon