Is childcare for me?

Whether you are just leaving School or College or thinking about a change in career, it is important that you get as much information about your chosen career before taking that first step!

At Kangacrew we offer one main piece of advice: Childcare is a career, not just a job.

Most people think of going into childcare because of their love for children. You may have lots of siblings, cousins or younger family members that you have spent time looking after or you may have worked as a babysitter for a number of years and felt that this is the foundation to a career you can be passionate about. Nowadays, many Schools offer help with those first steps into a career and give advice on ways to get early experience in your chosen career, be it work experience placements or part-time jobs. Or, you may be a mother or carer who is looking for a rewarding and fulfilling change in career.

Childcare is most definitely rewarding; with no day the same, being part of a community helping children to learn, grow and develop to their full potential and ability. Nursery Practitioners feel they help to give children that valuable start in life to a good education, helping children to develop their social skills in a safe and a caring environment that promotes learning through play.

It is these key values that we look for in a candidate. When recruiting for a new member of staff, nurseries are looking for qualities and attributes that would benefit their nursery, their children and their staff team. With the children’s care and education always at the forefront of their minds, nurseries carefully select potential recruits to ensure they find the right person for their nursery.

Kangacrew have devised a few FAQs to help those considering a career in childcare. Please take some time to read through the below information and feel free to contact us if you have any further questions about working in the childcare sector.

What Qualifications do I need?

You can work in a Nursery setting as an unqualified practitioner, and be classed as a Nursery Assistant; Nursery Assistants are non-supervisory and work under the constant supervision of qualified practitioners in the nursery until they hold the relevant qualifications to be supervisory.

Ofsted require that Nursery Nurses be qualified to at least NVQ Level 2 (or equivalent), however, most nurseries ask for the further qualification equivalent to a NVQ Level 3 to enable those practitioners to be supervisory. You will need at least Level 3 (or equivalent) to move into a senior or managerial role. 

How long will it take me to train whilst working full-time?

This depends on the nursery that employs you. If they offer to support and fund you through your training, you could either be on day release to college or possibly attend college one evening a week. Some nurseries provide complete in-house training, where you are given time during the working week to complete your coursework and where you can be assessed at your nursery.

Usually after completion of a satisfactory probation period, you will be given the opportunity to start your training. Depending on your current experience or qualifications; you may begin the Level 2 or perhaps go straight on to the Level 3.

The time taken to complete your qualification varies depending on the course, your own personal ability and time you can commit to your study.

Can I qualify full-time at college?

Yes, again the same rules apply with regards to the qualification you can do. If you were to complete a full-time or part-time course at college, the time taken would vary dependant on the course and your ability. As part of the qualification, you would be required to complete work placements at various nurseries where you will be assessed. By the time you have finished college you should have plenty of experience working in a nursery environment.

What would I be paid?

Nursery pay scales vary, depending on the size of the nursery – whether it is a privately owned nursery or part of a larger chain. 

An unqualified Nursery Assistant could start on a salary of approximately £10,000 to £11,500 per annum. This would then usually rise upon completion of a Childcare qualification. 

Qualified practitioners can usually expect to be paid between £12,000 and £14,500 per annum. Once you move into Room leader, Senior or Deputy Manager Role you could earn anything between £14,000 and £20,000 depending on the nursery. 

Nursery Managers usually earn upwards of £20,000 per annum.

Please note: These salaries are a guideline only and each individual role would carry its own salary and benefits.

What hours would I work?

Most nurseries are open between 8am and 6pm to allow for working parents to drop their children off before and after work. The majority of nurseries require their staff to work a 40 hour week, this would mean that you would work with the other employees on a rota system, either working 4 long days with one day off in the week, or doing different shifts of either: 8am to 5pm, 8:30am to 5:30pm or 9am to 6pm. Some Nurseries might offer shorter hours if they were running on School opening hours (9am to 3:15pm) during term time only and salaries would be paid in accordance with this, whereas other nurseries might offer a longer day (7:30am to 6:30pm). 

Please note: Your hours would be agreed at offer stage. 

What age range would I be working with?

Most nurseries take children from 3 months to 5 years old and some, from as young as 6 weeks old. As there is such a developmental difference between children of these young ages, nursery rooms are divided accordingly. A larger nursery might be divided as follows:

6 weeks/3 months to 1 year old	Babies
1 year to 2 years old	One to twos - Toddlers
2 years to 3 Years old	Two to Threes - Toddlers
3 years to 5 Years old	Pre-School Children

Can I choose which age I would like to work with?

Once you are experienced (and qualified) in Childcare you more than likely would have worked with one age group more than another and can therefore apply for specific roles working with a certain age range. 

As an unqualified member of staff you would be expected to learn about every age range, especially during your training, as your training will cover working with all ages in different units in your NVQ. 

Although you may be stationed in one particular room with one age range, you will be expected to help out in all areas of the Nursery when required.

What curriculum do nurseries follow?

Nursery education follows the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum).

More information on the EYFS can be found here: Link to children’s Workforce Development Council http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/eyfs