5 Jobs in Childcare & Early Years

Are you interested in a career working with young children and their families? Have a passion for nurturing young people, supporting early learning, or providing play activities to help them thrive and develop?

If so, and you’re looking for a rewarding career with opportunities to progress within them, then Childcare & Early Years could be the route for you. Here are five top jobs within this sector, and how you can get into them:

Nursery Worker

What is a Nursery Worker?

They look after babies and children up to 5 years old develop and learn in a supportive setting.

Do I need a degree? 

No, you don’t need a degree for this role. You can either do a college course, apprenticeship, working towards this role or applying directly.

Relevant college courses:

• NCFE Cache Level 3 Certificate/Diploma in Childcare and Education
• NCFE Cache Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner
• Apprenticeships in Childcare and Early Years – academic year 2020/21

What will I do?

Your typical day could look like:

• Planning and supervising activities for the babies and children
• Taking them on outings
• Feeding and changing babies
• Observing and reporting on the children
• Speaking with parents, carers and other nursery staff

What sort of salary can I earn?

You can earn a starting wage of around £14,000 up to £24,000 when you are more experienced.

Youth Worker

What is a Youth Worker?

They are responsible for guiding and supporting young people (aged 11-25), to help with their personal and social development.

Do I need a degree?

There are a few routes to becoming a Youth Worker, and a degree is one of them. Other options are a college course, apprenticeship, working towards the role and volunteering.

Useful degree subjects are as follows:

• Youth and community
• Community and youth studies
• Youth and theology
• Informal and community education

What will I do?

A typical day could look like:

• Counselling, coaching and mentoring young people
• Assessing needs and running projects that could deal with issues such as health, bullying, crime or drugs
• Managing volunteers and part time workers
• Organising sports, arts, education or drama activities

What sort of salary can I earn?

For this role, you can expect to start on around £18,000, moving up to £33,000 when more experienced.

Teaching Assistant

What is a Teaching Assistant?

They support the teachers and help children with their reading, writing and learning.

Do I need a degree? 

No, a degree is usually not necessary. You can get to this role by either a college course, apprenticeship, volunteering or applying directly.

Relevant college courses

NCFE Cache Level 3 Certificate/Diploma in Childcare and Education

What will I do? 

Depending on where you choose you work your tasks could vary, but may look like:

• Helping teachers prepare their lesson materials and equipment
• Working with groups and individual pupils
• Supervising group activities
• Looking after children who are upset or unwell

What sort of salary can I earn? 

A typical salary for this role can start at £11,500 and when more experienced this could move up to around £23,000

Safeguarding Officer

What is a Safeguarding officer?

They promote children’s wellbeing and protect them from harm or abuse.

Do I need a degree?

No, you don’t need a degree to get to this role. You can either work towards the role or apply directly. An element of volunteering with vulnerable children is essential, such as in the community, with a charity or paid work.

What will I do?

Your day could look something like this:

• Speaking with children, families and carers to assess needs
• Working with other professionals to identify at risk children
• Writing plans and arranging support
• Giving evidence in court
• Recording case details

What sort of salary can I earn? 

You can expect to start on a salary of £25,000 and once experienced can go up to £40,000

Play Therapist

What is a Play Therapist?

Their role is to help children with difficult life experiences, or complex psychological issues through play.

Do I need a degree?

Yes, for this job role you will need a degree. You will need a postgraduate qualification which has been approved by the British Association of Play Therapists or Play Therapy UK.

The most relevant degree subjects would be:

• Psychology
• Early childhood studies
• Mental health nursing
• Occupational therapy
• Drama, art or music

What will I do?

With this type of role, you could be based either at a client’s home, a care home for children, or a school. Depending on your working environment, your day could look something like this:

• Running individual or group therapy sessions
• Assessing a child’s needs along with parent and carers
• Using play techniques such as drawing, sand, music and storytelling
• Running workshops and monitoring progress

What sort of salary can I earn?

You can expect to start on a salary of £24,000 and once experienced can go up to £45,000