Child Care Career Courses

Careers in Childcare - Caring for the future generation

Working with children and young people is one of the most rewarding jobs imaginable. You can gain qualifications which will help you gain access to a wide range of careers in child care, ranging from playwork and childminding to teaching and nursing.

Find out more about careers in child care, and what qualifications you will need:

With children at home

You could be a live-in nanny or a daily nanny looking after children of all ages and abilities whilst also providing healthy and nutritious meals and general first aid.
Recommended qualifications:

• Level 3 Diploma in Child Care and Education (DCCE-L3)
• NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development (CCLD-L3)
• Level 3 Diploma in Home-based Child Care (DHC-L3)

You could also be a childminder looking after children under 8 years old. You must be registered with the local authority and adhere to health and safety standards.
Recommended qualifications:

• Level 3 Diploma in Home-based Child Care (DHC-L3)
• NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development (CCLD-L3)

In childcare centres
 

Nursery Assistants

Nursery assistants are involved with caring for babies, toddlers, pre-school children in a nursery or day care setting. This is a supervised role and you will be expected to take responsibility for completing tasks and procedures subject to direction or guidance.
Recommended qualifications:

• NVQ Level 2 in Children's Care, Learning and Development (CCLD-L2)
• Level 2 Diploma in Child Care and Education (DCCE-L2)

Nursery Nurses

Nursery nurses may work in childcare centres unsupervised, or within a nursery or day care setting. This is a supervisory role and you will be expected to take responsibility and to plan for the development of the children in your care.
Required qualifications:

• Level 3 Diploma in Child Care and Education (DCCE-L3)
• NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development (CCLD-L3)

Nursery Officers

Nursery Officers are trained to manage a team of people and can be responsible for operational management. There is an expectation that Nursery Officers will be experienced and will have undertaken further training and development after their initial qualification.
Recommended qualifications:

• Level 3 Diploma in Child Care and Education (DCCE-L3)
• Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Care and Education - Welsh Medium (WMD-L3)
• Professional Development Qualifications
• NVQ Level 4 in Children's Care, Learning and Development (CCLD-L4)

With children and their families in pre-school or playgroups
 

Play Assistants

Play assistants help the play leader within a pre-school or playgroup setting. The is a supervisory role and Play Assistants will be expected to have some knowledge of child development and the role of play.
Recommended qualifications:

• Level 2 Certificate in Pre-School Practice (CPP-L2)
• NVQ Level 2 in Children's Care, Learning and Development (CCLD-L2)

Play Leaders

Play leaders manage playgroups and pre-schools, often working with parents to provide care and education for young children. This is a supervisory role and will involve managing a team and planning for the needs of the children.
Required qualifications:

• Level 3 Diploma in Pre-School Practice (DPP-L3)
• NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development (CCLD-L3)
• Level 3 Diploma in Playgroup Practice in Wales (DPPW-L3)

In schools
 

Classroom Assistants

Classroom assistants work with teachers in the classroom. This role involves working with individual children and small groups. Classroom assistants will need some knowledge of curriculum frameworks and the development of children, be able to work both alone and within teams.
Recommended qualifications:

• NVQ in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools Level 2 and Level 3

In nursery schools
 

Nursery Nurses

Nursery nurses support the teacher within the classroom or nursery. As a Level 3 practitioner, nursery nurses may be expected to plan for a small group of children and to have knowledge of child development. They will need the skills to work individually and within a team.
Required qualifications:

• Diploma in Child Care and Education (DCCE-L3)
• NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development (CCLD-L3)
• Later, you can work towards these qualifications:

Professional Development Qualifications

• NVQ Level 4 in Children's Care, Learning and Development (CCLD-L4)

The following are the most popular child care courses studied today:

Child Day Care

Child Psychology

GCSE Child Development

Starting Your Own Childminding Business

In addition, the following course has proved to be very popular:

Writing Books For Children

The following useful links may assist you with finding out more about a career in child care:

National Day Nurseries Association
The Pre-School Learning Alliance
National Childminding Association