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Sector Outlook
Working within childcare you may be directly involved in looking after
young children or have a regulatory role that does not always involve direct
contact. The majority of workers in the sector are female with the majority
being qualified to level 2 or level 3.
An increasing demand from working mothers as well as government
investment has led to an increase in early years provision, education
and play group settings. Other factors that have led to a greater need
for childcare provision include the rising number of early years children
and younger parents, as well as increased levels of child pover ty. Work
oppor tunities can be found in full day care, child minding, crèches,
sessional care, out of school and holiday play schemes, family centres,
nursery classes and reception classes.
You will improve your chances of gaining employment if you can prove to
employers that you can develop a good relationship with adults and children
alike, show resilience when dealing with demanding children, demonstrate
good communication and listening skills, and show empathy. It will also help
if you have good number and IT skills.
Job oppor tunities are more plentiful in London and South East England with
vacancies in other par ts of the UK being significantly lower. When looking
for work don’t forget that a variety of organisations actively recruit childcare
practitioners. In addition to nurseries and schools consider applying to
the National Health Service or to holiday companies operating abroad.
Recruitment websites such as Nursery World Jobs
(www.nurserynursejobs.
co.uk) feature many vacancies and feature key employers such as Bright
Horizons, Treetop Nurseries, ClubMed, Thompsons, JEM Childcare
Solutions, Nur ture Day Nurseries and many more.
Whenever possible take the oppor tunity to work on a voluntary basis as a
means of gaining relevant experience and to show that you have genuine
interest in the welfare of children.
Childcare