Working With Children: Childcare

Caring for children comes naturally to many people, and there are those that are lucky enough to know that childcare is the profession for them. But for some, changing career and building a new vocation in childcare might not be a first consideration.

However, a variety of skills are necessary in helping children to grow emotionally, physically and socially - so it then goes that a variety of people with these skills are needed to fulfil these requirements. After all, childcare is a very important aspect of any child's development and well-being, and should be considered as one of the most valuable jobs for our future generations.

Childcare is a varied, fun, flexible and ultimately satisfying career path for any person to undertake. The childcare sector is growing fast, and there has never been a better time to enter the childcare profession. The demand for and variety of job opportunities available is remarkably high. So if you've often wondered whether you could make the switch and change to a career in childcare, you might be surprised at just how easy it could be.

Choosing

There are many different roles associated with the childcare profession, ranging from managerial roles to hands-on assistant jobs. Of course, if you intend to work in the childcare sector, then it's safe to say that you think you're good with working with children. But it's best to have an idea of a more specific role, so that you can make the most of your skills and strengths, particularly as working with children requires a lot of dedication, patience and enthusiasm.

Some of the most common positions found in childcare include working within nurseries and schools, within pre-schools and playgroups, 'private' childminding and playwork.

Playwork includes working with children in a capacity that encourages learning and social skills in a fun environment. Out of school clubs and community centres are some of the most common forms of playwork, and can encompass activities such as art and craft, sport, music and drama. If you possess any of these skills you may find that you're more than suitable in pursuing a career in playwork.

If you intend to work on the more business and administration aspect of childcare, then you'll need to be organised, and ideally possess a reasonable amount of experience in business, supervision or management beforehand. Interpersonal skills will be of paramount importance.

These sorts of skills are transferable from a plethora of other professions, but of course it helps to have a proven track record that you understand the needs of a developing child. This is where some training or qualifications in child development might come in handy, or similarly some experience in working with children in circumstances such as an after-school club might put you that bit further ahead with your employability.

Qualifications

When working in childcare, there are certain positions that necessitate the need for the appropriate qualifications to fulfil the requirements of the role. These sorts of positions usually include early years education and care, as well as the role of nursery nurse or team leaders. Working with babies and children with mental or physical disability may also require specific training (sometimes included as a module within a college course), such as psychology or child development. Also, any first aid training will also be a big bonus when working with children.

Studying for a childcare qualification doesn't have to be a full-time undertaking. Although full-time college courses are widespread, there are also many opportunities for would-be mature students to study part-time. Diplomas in particular can be studied from home - distance learning is an increasingly popular study option for many. A diploma will also open up opportunities to train on the job, and receive training for further qualifications, such as NVQ Level 3 or a BTEC.

If you currently don't have the right entry requirements, such as the appropriate GCSEs to get yourself onto a college course, you can always try an Access to Higher Education qualification. This is basically like a foundation course that will equip you to take your training onto the next step.

There are a few routes to gaining the right qualifications for a career in childcare. Obviously, to a certain degree this can be dependent on the specific position you'd like to undertake. But in most cases, there is usually a college course for each position. You may also be able to train on the job, gaining your qualifications as you learn and take on more responsibility, with regular reviews. For some positions, there is the opportunity to combine the two by undertaking a college course whilst training on the job.

Salary

It's hard to define a salary in childcare, as it can be dependent on a variety of factors, such as the hours worked, and the location. Pay scales in particular are determined by location, and tend to be set on a local, rather than national basis. However, the general rule is that the more hours worked, and the more qualifications that you have, the larger job salary you can expect to receive. To get an idea of your local salary, you can always approach your local jobcentre or check out your local jobcentre website for a quick perusal.

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