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A career in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) can be one of the most rewarding jobs available today. If you are passionate about inspiring and educating the next generation and are looking to learn a comprehensive set of transferrable skills, then you should explore more in-depth what education, as an industry, has to offer.
The EYFS tends to provide teachers and educators with a high level of job satisfaction, due to the fact you will watch children learn and develop from a very young age, work in partnership with parents towards learning goals, and build meaningful relationships with like-minded people.
Whether you are leaving secondary school or planning a career change to teaching, job hunting for your first role in the Early Years Foundation Stage does not have to be a challenge. There are plenty of ways you could start gaining valuable work experience with children today, which are often overlooked by the majority of people. Hence, we have compiled a useful list of 7 underrated opportunities to start a career in the EYFS.
Nurseries and schools often have the requirement for new candidates to have a minimum of 6 months of work experience with children. If you have never worked with young children before, volunteering will demonstrate your commitment to the education industry, your proactive nature, and your ability to communicate effectively and work as part of a team.
A period of voluntary work experience looks great on your CV and will open your doors to a nursery assistant position in an EYFS setting, such as a nursery or school. Potential employers will be impressed by your determination to make a positive contribution to society whilst gaining essential skills to pursue your career in childcare and education.
Charities and non-profit organisations like Save the Children, Kids Charity, Barnardo’s, The Childhood Trust, NSPCC, Action for Children, and many more are always on the lookout for volunteers. You could also volunteer in a local school, hospital, or community centre.
Volunteering is largely available in most roles, but not all. Some agencies and organisations might require an existing skillset and knowledge from you. Therefore, we advise you to carry out some research before you apply.
Depending on your personal circumstances, you could dedicate a certain amount of time to voluntary work experience, whether it would be a couple of hours a week or the entire holiday season. However, it is crucial to be realistic and make sure volunteering does not interfere with other areas of your life, such as study, work, or family commitments.
If your current circumstances do not allow you to be in the position to carry out unpaid work, such as volunteering, becoming a nanny is a great solution to gain your initial childcare experience whilst earning money.
Whether on a part-time or full-time arrangement, as a nanny you will meet the physical, emotional, and social needs of the children in your care. Some nannies help with homework, while others carry out cleaning-related tasks, such as tidying up and washing up. Some nannies can live in, also known as au-pairs, whereas others live out of the home. Whatever arrangement suits you best, becoming a nanny is a fantastic way to kickstart your career in childcare and education.
Furthermore, if you have a child of your own, becoming a nanny is also a great solution to your childcare needs, since some families allow nannies to bring their own children to work. Your experience as a parent might be seen as a valuable asset for the job by your employer, not to mention the fact you would bring someone to socialise with their child and engage in group activities.
In some cases, families might be seeking someone with an educational background or established training. For this reason, it is not a bad idea to undertake some basic training before applying for a nanny job. Organisations like Pacey, Training for Nannies, and Nanny Job offer childcare-related courses, such as Paediatric First Aid, Child Behaviour and Development, Special Educational Needs, Child Psychology and many more.
If you cannot commit to a permanent arrangement, such as becoming a nanny or volunteering, but you still want to gain valuable childcare work experience, then babysitting is a great choice.
Babysitting offers similar benefits to becoming a nanny, with the exception you will not be employed on a regular basis. You will be hired, as and when needed, to watch children after-school or while parents enjoy a night out. Your duties would also differ, as your primary focus for the role will be watching the children in your care and ensuring they are always kept safe.
Becoming a tutor brings many advantages. First and foremost, tutoring enables you to develop essential skills that will make your professional profile more appealing to the eyes of an employer, such as communication, interpersonal, leadership and resilience.
Furthermore, tutoring is also a flexible job, which allows you to adjust your workload according to your priorities and decide when to work, on your own terms. Therefore, becoming a tutor is ideal for students and part-time workers.
Being a tutor comes with a range of financial benefits too, such as being able to choose your hourly rate to suit your experience, geographical location and cost of living.
Moreover, tutoring is a highly rewarding experience, as you will encourage learning and see your children grow and excel in their knowledge and confidence.
Within the UK, anyone can become a tutor. In fact, there are no required qualifications to start tutoring. It might, of course, be beneficial to hold a degree or qualification of some kind in the subject that you wish to tutor in, but this is not a strict requirement.
There are plenty of platforms that you can use to register as a tutor and advertise your services, such as First Tutors, Tutorful, Titanium Tutors, and many more.
A childcare apprenticeship is an excellent way to start your career in childcare and education. Becoming an apprentice will allow you to learn the necessary skills whilst also earning money and gaining a qualification at the same time. During your childcare apprenticeship, you will be learning towards full and relevant qualifications in Early Years, such as level 2, level 3 or level 5 qualifications, which are nationally recognised.
You will be taught the skills to look after children and keep them happy and safe. Meanwhile, you will work and interact directly with children daily, supporting the planning and delivery of activities, planning next steps for the children in your care and interacting with parents and external agencies, such as health visitors, social workers and speech therapists.
You can apply for a fully-funded apprenticeship in two main ways:
If you have been mulling over the idea to gain childcare experience whilst working from the comfort of your own home, you may have considered the option of registering as a childminder. While childminding is subject to regulation, it is a fantastic option for those seeking part-time employment and greater flexibility.
There are many benefits to providing this type of care, such as flexible hours, low start-up costs, and the possibility to work while looking after your own children too.
There are plenty of transferrable skills you can learn when working as a childminder. In fact, you will need to be organised and juggle admin work whilst ensuring the needs of the children and families in your care are met.
If you are unsure about where to get started, you can seek support from a childminding agency or organisation, such as Childminding UK, Pacey, Tiney, and more.
A traineeship is a skills development programme that includes a work experience placement. Traineeships help 16 to 24-year-olds to get ready for an apprenticeship or job if they don’t have the appropriate skills or experience. Traineeships include at least 70 hours of work experience placement. They can last from 6 weeks up to 1 year, but most last less than 6 months.
Employers can offer a work experience placement to you as a trainee. They will work with a training provider to design a learning programme tailored for you. The training provider will assess your needs as a trainee and, in some cases, you may need pre-employment training before starting your work experience placement.
Employers will then work with the training provider to plan and agree:
Traineeships are flexible. Employers can change the programme as they go to make sure you get the most out of it.
At the end of the traineeship, employers will either:
As you can see, there is plenty to get excited about when it comes to finding ways to gain your first childcare work experience. If you are unsure on which route would best suit your circumstances, you can contact our friendly team, who will always be available to answer any questions you might have along the way.
Nutritional Therapist and Early Years NutritionConsultant
At the intersection of health, nutrition, and early years education stands Louise Mercieca, a dynamic force in the realm of nutritional well-being for young children. A prolific writer with numerous articles and the notable book ‘How Food Shapes Your Child’ under her belt, she has delved deep into the intricacies of how food impacts a child’s development.
Her passion was kindled by two key elements: the journey she undertook with her young son and the extensive research she carried out for her debut book. Not just an author, Louise further extends her reach through the airwaves with her radio show ‘Food For Thought’ on Teacher Hug Radio.
Louise’s commitment doesn’t stop at raising awareness. As an Early Years Nutrition Consultant, she actively collaborates on menu development and nutritional education, ensuring that children receive a balanced and informed start to their dietary journey. Her driving belief is unequivocal: by understanding the bond between food and biology early on, we can preemptively address and potentially prevent many health and dietary issues adults grapple with later in life.
Her dedication to this cause positions her as a beacon for professionals in the Early Years sector, guiding them to understand the pivotal role food plays in holistic child health.
Chef Trainer at LEYF
In the vibrant world of child nutrition and culinary training, Sean Cowden shines as a beacon of expertise and dedication. As of 2022, he took the reins as Chef Trainer for LEYF’s esteemed Early Years Chef Academy courses. Initiated by LEYF in 2019, the Early Years Chef Academy emerged from a pressing need: to guarantee that young learners receive the essential, nutritious food vital for their growth and cognitive development. Through this initiative, chefs are meticulously trained not only in the culinary arts but also in the nuances of child nutrition, sculpting them into experts that inspire children, staff, and parents alike to cultivate lifelong healthy eating habits.
Before his esteemed tenure at LEYF Nurseries, Sean donned the hat of a Head Chef at an independent school, bringing his culinary flair to the academic arena. Additionally, his role as a Training Specialist for Gail’s Bakery further showcases his diverse expertise and unwavering commitment to the world of culinary arts and education.