National Careers Week (NCW) is a brilliant annual opportunity to spotlight careers, inspire ambition and make careers guidance part of everyday conversations in schools, colleges and workplaces across the UK. This year NCW runs from 2nd to 7th March and offers free resources, downloadable activities and ways for organisations from all sectors to get involved and share what careers look like in the real world.
For early years education, NCW gives the industry a platform to challenge outdated ideas about childcare as a short-term job and to champion it as a career for life with real progression, variety, leadership opportunities and impact.
Early years as a long-term career choice
Too often early years work is seen as something people ‘fall into’ rather than a meaningful profession that people choose. But the reality is very different and as more people begin to recognise and accept the importance of the first 5 years of life, and we raise the profile of early years education, this will change.
As early years practitioners know, they support children’s earliest learning, emotional well-being and development, laying foundations that last a lifetime. It is a skilled, regulated profession demanding knowledge, empathy, judgement and intentional practice. NCW can help change perceptions of the sector by:
- Bringing early years careers to the forefront of careers events in schools and colleges
- Encouraging young people (and their parents and advisers) to see early years as a career pathway, not just a short-term job
- Connecting employers, educators and potential recruits through talks, workplace visits, careers fairs and online events
This can help nurseries and settings attract the right people into the sector. It’s also an important way to encourage those already in the profession to see there is room to grow professionally and personally.
Here are some ways you can help careers
Attracting new talent: recruit apprentices and new starters.
For recruiters and setting leaders, NCW is a great moment to showcase apprenticeship opportunities and career pathways in your setting. Apprenticeships are one of the most effective ways to bring new talent into early years, offering people the chance to ‘earn while they learn’ and gain recognised qualifications. Apprenticeships available in early years include:
- Level 2 Early Years Practitioner - excellent for those starting out or entering the sector with no previous experience
- Level 3 Early Years Educator (EYE) - a respected professional qualification allowing planning, leadership of activities and counted in staffing ratios
- Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner - a higher-level apprenticeship focused on leadership, management and setting quality practice standards
These widely available standards allow people at different stages of their careers to progress and specialise as they go. During NCW you can promote vacancies, apprenticeships and workplace tours to schools, colleges and jobseekers. Many schools and colleges welcome contact with settings as they also need to find work experience placements usually in the summer term. Hosting an event or sharing apprentice stories on social media can also help people see the real-world experience of a career in early years. There are also other qualifications in early years including qualified teachers and you can gain degrees and doctorates too.
Lifelong growth: CPD, leadership and beyond
Early years careers do not stop when someone completes an apprenticeship. One of the most powerful benefits of connecting NCW with ongoing CPD is that it helps practitioners see career development as a continuous journey, not a one-off qualification. CPD can be anything from staying up to date with the latest industry news, to gaining a totally new qualification or moving into a different area such as special needs, Forest School or even setting administration.
There are many courses and different forms of training available from colleges, sector training institutions, online providers, and settings themselves and they can be free, fully or partially funded or self-funded depending on the circumstances. For example, Parenta provides a range of courses and flexible training options in addition to their apprenticeships, that can help practitioners and leaders stay up to date, grow their knowledge and enhance practice throughout their careers. These include:
- Short online CPD courses with flexible access so busy practitioners can fit learning around work
- An early years skills bootcamp to help kickstart an early years career
- Webinars and masterclasses on current topics in early years practice
- Guidance on leadership, SEND and inclusive practice
- Specialist subjects to support quality interactions, behavioural understanding or curriculum development
Recently, Parenta have also set up a Level 3 Award in the Principles of a SEND Coordinator course which is a ‘qualification only’ course rather than an apprenticeship. It is suitable for early years practitioners who want to strengthen their knowledge, confidence and practical skills in supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This could be a stepping stone to becoming a SENCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) or a specialist in this area. You can find out more about all Parenta courses at www.parenta.com.
Encouraging your staff to upskill is also a great way to promote loyalty in your workforce. Level 2's can do a Level 3 course, and your qualified Level 3 staff could take the first step into leadership with a Level 5 apprenticeship.
How to get involved in National Careers Week
Helping people develop their careers in early years can, and should be, a year-round activity and the resources from NCW are certainly available to use throughout the year. However, there’s also something magical about getting involved in the buzz of the week, the media attention, and the virtual careers fair.
There are lots of ways you can mark National Careers Week, including:
- Visit the National Careers Week website at nationalcareersweek.com to download free resources, activity ideas and posters for events or careers talks
- Share stories from your setting about careers in early years on social media using #NCW2026
- Invite schools or career advisors to visit your setting or host a virtual careers talk
- Offer to host students in a work experience capacity
- Promote early years apprenticeships at all levels and career pathways in staff meetings, appraisals or newsletters
- Create simple information packs or displays for young people and parents about the practical benefits and progression routes in early years
- Encourage your more experienced staff to upskill to develop their own career
NCW is not just a week; it is a chance to open conversations, shift mindsets and help people understand early years education as the rich, rewarding and lifelong career that it truly is.
More information:
National Careers Week website
Parenta Training Limited website
Early Years Careers – Gov.uk
Other articles:
National Careers Week 2026: Teacher notes
Why Apprenticeships Are The Secret Path To A Rewarding Career
