Working with children is a worthwhile, challenging and immensely rewarding career choice. A career in early education, childcare and play could be for you if you are:
- enthusiastic and fun
- caring, understanding and patient
- resourceful, imaginative and creative
- responsible
Variety of roles
Depending on your experience, the hours you want to work, and the age range of children you want to work with, you could choose to work in nurseries, pre-schools, out-of-school and holiday clubs or as a childminder in your own home. You could also specialise in working with children with special educational needs.
Training and development opportunities
Working in early years education, childcare and play work offers career progression through nationally recognised and respected qualifications. Qualifications are not always required to start work in a childcare or play work setting, although you must usually show a commitment to gaining a qualification. Usually people gain practical experience in a job while working towards a qualification.
There are opportunities for promotion, and with further qualifications and training you can progress to being a qualified practitioner, playworker, supervisor, deputy manager, or manager and can go on to gain early years professional status.
Contact the early years workforce development team for more information about careers and childcare related qualifications.
Childminding
Registered childminders look after one or more children under the age of 8 for more than a total of 2 hours a day. They do this in a domestic setting (normally their own home) for payment.
Registered childminders are inspected by Ofsted, to make sure they provide a safe and stimulating environment for the children that they care for. Registered childminders are usually self employed and run their own business.
As a registered childminder you will:
- offer the children you care for a happy and inspirational environment
- see the children that you care for grow and develop
- work in your home, choosing the hours you work and the services you provide
- have a career where no two days are the same
- care for your own children at the same time if you have a family
- meet other childcare professionals in your area and get to know your local community
- join many thousands of childminders providing high quality childcare
There is no typical day for a childminder as each one organises their day to meet the needs of the children they care for. However typical activities might include:
- visiting a park, museum, library or play session
- arranging fun and stimulating learning activities, such as dressing-up, creative play, reading, and celebrating cultural events from around the world
- providing meals and snacks for the children, involving them in food preparation and menu choices
- providing wraparound care for children attending preschool, school or activity clubs
- working with other local childminders to organise group activities
For more information email qd.team@bracknell-forest.gov.uk