Explore exciting childcare jobs: which one is right for you?

Childcare jobs may conjure up images of nurseries, nannies and childminders, but if early years childcare isn’t for you, it’s worth remembering that there are childcare roles available for school-aged children too. In this article, we’re going to look at the different childcare jobs out there and how you can access them.

Why work in childcare?

Let’s start by reminding ourselves why working in childcare is so rewarding. Here at Premier Education, we aren’t just passionate about sport and activity, but we are also passionate about playing a key role in the development of children.

Everything we do, from running active and engaging holiday clubs, to dynamic after school clubs and fun wraparound care sessions, has the child at the heart of our activity.

We love seeing kids flourish, whether that’s helping them to learn new skills, build confidence or find a new hobby that they love. Whatever position you have within a childcare or school setting, you’ll have a unique influence on their lives:

• Life skills: you’ll be shaping an important number of their life skills such as the way they deal with different situations, learning to share and be patient.
• Learning through play: you’ll be making sure children develop social skills and confidence through various play scenarios. Children understand the world through play, so every opportunity to play provides valuable learning experiences.
• Family support: you’ll be a valuable and trusted member of the community for all of the parents and families you work with.
• Diverse days: You’ll benefit from fast-moving days where activities vary and boredom is a thing of the past!
• Commitment to wellbeing: as well as bringing fun and activities to the many children in your care, you’ll be directly responsible for keeping them safe and happy.

The different job roles in childcare

So what jobs are there in childcare? Thanks to ongoing demand for preschool childcare as well as the expanding wraparound care programme for primary schools, there’s no shortage of job opportunities in this sector.

Whether you want to work with babies and toddlers, preschoolers or even primary school children, you can find an overview of the main roles below.

Nursery or early years practitioner

Based within a nursery or preschool, as an early years practitioner you’ll be working with young children aged 0-5. You’ll be responsible for their day-to-day care, planning activities and supervising play, as well as safeguarding all of the children in your care.

You’ll need to have a good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework (EYFS) and be able to follow the multiple policies and procedures that make the setting safe.

Childminder

Caring for children up to the age of 16 at your own home, as a childminder you’re self-employed so have the flexibility to negotiate your own rates of pay and conditions. You’ll need to make sure you follow ratio guidelines and would be responsible for preparing meals for children in your care.

Nanny

As a nanny, or au pair, you look after the children of your employer and are based in their home. Depending on the age of the child or children, you may be expected to get them ready for school, prepare meals, help with homework and organise play and social activities.

You may live-in or travel to work each day. Full time hours and pay would be negotiated with your employer.

SEND support

Helping children with special educational needs, you’ll likely be working one-on-one with a child at school or preschool. Your role is to support them in their development by responding to their individual needs.

You’ll need to work closely with teachers and parents to develop appropriate plans for the child to help them on their learning journey.

Playworker

A career as a playworker is flexible, varied and fun. Working with children of all ages, you may be part of a playscheme, holiday club or wraparound care provision. You’ll be part of a team who plan and set up various activities for kids who attend the sessions and will need to be comfortable in liaising with parents and other staff members.

You’ll need to be committed to watching children grow and flourish and understand the importance of play within a child’s development.

How do I get a job in childcare?

Does a career in childcare sound perfect for you? Wondering how to get a job in childcare? First of all, find ways to get experience working with young people. Find out if your local playgroup needs volunteers or look into whether a family you know needs a babysitter.

It’s also worth getting help to write your CV for childcare jobs. Look for tips and ways you can tailor your CV to catch the eye of recruiters.

In terms of qualifications, it depends on the position you’re considering applying for, but it’s likely that you’ll be required to have GCSEs in maths and English and you may need either a Level 2 or a Level 3 childcare qualification. It’s usually the case that you can study for these qualifications while working.

What else you will need:

• You’ll need to pass an enhanced DBS check
• You’ll often need to undertake some form of safeguarding training
• You may need to complete a food hygiene course
• You’ll need a paediatric first aid certificate
• You’ll need plenty of patience, empathy, energy and a good sense of fun!

Are childcare jobs in demand?

Absolutely. The extension of funded hours for preschool kids has increased pressure on many settings, so staff are in demand. And, as stated earlier, the rollout of the wraparound childcare programme intends for all primary school children to have access to before- and after-school care, so playworkers in particular are in extremely high demand.

Are there progression opportunities?

Settings will have managers, room leads and supervisors, so if you have an interest in a managerial role then that’s certainly something you can work towards. Your employer can guide you on any additional qualifications or experience you may need to fulfil these roles.

Work for the largest wraparound childcare provider in the UK

We are always on the lookout for energetic playworkers to join our wraparound childcare teams up and down the country. We look for trustworthy individuals who have the right attitude, love spending time with young people and who enjoy inspiring them to get active.

If you like the sound of a flexible, dynamic career with a successful, growing company, search our vacancies or get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!