Working in early education and child care

A career in early education and child care involves working with pre school and school age children often in a play group, out of school care, nursery or creche setting.  Pre school education is very important to a child, helping them to develop the skills they'll use throughout their life. 

What's involved?

Workers provide care and education to children, helping them to learn and develop a range of skills through play.  They can work with children from birth to 12 years old from all backgrounds and of all abilities.  Workers plan and support play based activities and may feed children and change nappies where appropriate.  Workers are required to observe and assess children's needs so need to be skilful at writing reports.

They are also involved in supporting children's learning often by working with the pre-fives' curriculum.  This includes supporting children who are learning to read, to use numbers and solve problems.  They will have to work closely with parents and carers and within their team and good listening, communications, leadership skills.

Workers are responsible for the children in their care and must be able to act quickly in an emergency and carry out basic first aid. 

You can work in a variety of settings including play groups, nurseries, child and family centres and crèches.  Service can be run privately, by a local authority, be part of a school or run through the voluntary sector.

Salary

Salaries vary depending on the position, qualifications the worker holds and whether the service is privately owned or local authority.  A nursery nurse can earn between £11k and £14k a year.  Senior post such as a nursery manager position can earn up to £25k.

By 2014 all workers in day care of children services will be registered with the SSSC.