CAREER CHOICES IN EARLY YEARS EDUCATION, CHILDCARE & PLAYWORK
There's a wide range of opportunities working with
children and young people:
- Working with various age groups from birth to 16 years
- Working anything from just a few hours a week to
more regular part-time or full-time employment
- Working for someone else or setting up your own business,
for example a nursery or after school club, or as a childminder
These are just some of the options available to
you:
Playgroup Assistant
Playgroup Assistants work in pre-schools and playgroup
settings which run for either a full-day or part
of the day e.g. 2 hour sessions. The children attending
are usually aged between two and three years old.
The emphasis is on learning through play and parents
are often involved in the playgroup. Increasingly,
playgroups are offering holiday schemes. Both full
and part time work may be available as well as
possibly working term-time only.
Playworker
Playworkers usually work with children in out of
school settings in either a breakfast club, after
school club or holiday club, outside of normal
school hours. Playwork involves providing opportunities
for children and young people from 5 – 15 years
to play, as part of their development. It is a
highly skilled and demanding job, but very enjoyable
and fulfilling too. A good playworker will involve
children and young people in planning and shaping
the play setting. Many start as volunteers and
then go on to paid employment.
Nursery Nurse
Nursery Nurses work in a variety of settings that
include local authority nursery schools or classes,
private day nurseries, voluntary sector nurseries,
child and family centres, community nurseries.
Working hours are generally 8 am – 6 pm but they
can be longer. In most nurseries you will have
the option to work full or part time. Children
can be aged between 6 weeks to eight years depending
on the nursery and their registration details.
Classroom Assistant
Classroom Assistants work in schools and support
teachers in the classroom setting. They mainly
work with primary age children from reception age
3 to year 3 age 6. They do not work unsupervised
but rather help prepare equipment and tables for
activities that the teacher will lead. Work is
usually available on a part time or full time basis
and is term-time only.
Crèche Worker
Crèche workers are qualified childcare staff
that work on a sessional basis, looking after children
who are dropped off by their parents while they undertake
a specific activity. For example, a crèche
may be set up by a sports centre to enable parents
to take a keep-fit class and then pick their children
up once the class is over. Work is therefore mainly
part time.
Childminder
Childminders work from their own home but can be
a part of a network of childminders in order to
support each other. A childminder can look after children of all ages, although if you want to work with children under the age of eight years
old you have to register with OfSTED.
The number of children you can look after at any
one time as a registered childminder is limited,
and you will have to make your home really safe
and stimulating for children. You can receive advice on setting up as a childminder from the Families Information Service.
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