Student sits at a table reading an illustrated story book to a life-size toddler doll that sits on her lap

Childcare & Early Years

If you enjoy working with children, and want to play a key part in their formative years, then a career in early years is incredibly rewarding.

 The first few years of a child’s life can have a lasting impact on the person they become as they grow up. This industry offers a wide range of opportunities in supporting children and their families to give them opportunities to grow, learn and develop.

Work In

Nurseries

Primary Schools

Holiday Parks

Our Courses

3 students work at a table, 1 with a notebook and pen and the other 2 with lap top computers

Level 1 Introduction to HSC & Young Peoples Settings

2 students work with a story sack. They are reading a book, with fabric mat depicting a water and land scene, a toy boat and swans and flash cards spread on the table infront of them

Level 2 Early Years & Primary Settings

2 students bath a baby doll. There are lots of bubbles

T Level Education & Early Years

Other Areas of Interest

Students in chef’s whites plate up food. In the background you can see saucepans with steam rising from them

Hospitality & Catering

Student gives an electrical facial, using electrodes with wires that connect to a machine in the background. The client lays, relaxed, on a therapy couch covered in a towl

Beauty

Jobs

There are many worthwhile job opportunities within the Childcare & Early Years sector.

Nursery Nurse / Early Years Practitioner: Working in a nursery or pre-school setting, they supervise the children’s play, providing activities to support their learning and development, help with children’s meals and take care of their personal and social development needs. They observe the children to help understand their learning needs and provide regular feedback on their progress, building effective relationships with the children and their parents/carers.

Early Years Teacher / Educator: Working in a pre-school or school with children up to 5 years old to encourage their learning through experience and play, they help to plan lessons and develop learning resources for them. They provide an environment where they feel safe and help them to develop independence, communication and social skills, and inspire their learning while recording observations of their development and achievements.

Child and Family Support Worker (social services/education): Supporting and working with vulnerable families and enabling play experiences for early years children. They are likely to be asked to write reports and may need to attend child protection case conferences.

Bilingual Assistant (education): Supporting bilingual children within an early years setting. The role may require them to speak an additional language.

Special Needs Worker (education): Supporting children with special educational needs within an early years setting.

Early Years Teaching Assistant (education): Working with a teacher to support teaching and learning within an early years setting. This may be within a school or nursery.

Social Worker (social services): Support children who have been abused, are experiencing difficulties or need help with day-to-day living.

Speech and Language Therapist (health): Working with children and adults who have difficulty producing speech or understanding language, they usually work in hospitals and community care centres.

Childminder: Professional child carers who work in their own home, set their own work times and days, and work across a wide range of ages. Childminders who work with under 8s are required to register with Ofsted and will be inspected on a regular basis to ensure they are meeting regulatory requirements.