Are you interested in a career in childcare?
The following information will be useful if you are looking for a change of career of just starting out after studying. There are lots of options to consider when working in Early Years and Childcare.
Working with children can be demanding and requires a unique set of skills however it is extremely rewarding and can give professionals an immense sense of satisfaction.
Skills you will need
There are a wide range of skills required when working with children or their families:
- Caring nature
- Good communication and listening skills
- Having a good level of spoken and written English
- Being creative
- Problem solver
- A positive and friendly approach
- Able to build positive relationships
- Able to work within a team and use own initiative.
Childcare Roles
There are many different career options within Early Years and Childcare, these include:
Working in a home-based environment:
- Childminder
- Childminder Assistant
- Nanny/Home Carer.
Working in a non-domestic setting:
- Early Years Worker (unqualified)
- Early Years Practitioner (Level 2 qualified)
- Early Years Educator (Level 3 qualified)
- Residential Childcare Worker (Level 3 qualified)
- Play Therapist
- Play Worker
- Teaching Assistant
- Pre-School Assistant
- Start Well Family Centre Worker
- Early Years Teacher.
Training and Qualification
Completing a qualification in childcare will help you to understand more about your role and the environment you work in enhancing the service you provide to children and their families.
Step into Childcare Taster Sessions
We have developed a free 1 day taster session to look at job roles and skills required to work with young children, including awareness of requirements that must be met when working with young children. This session aims to cover the following:
- Supporting child and young person development
- Different job roles available in Early Years
- What is Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
- Safeguarding Children and Young People
- Children with Special Educational Needs
- Healthy Lifestyle in Early Years.
If you are interested and would like to find out when our next taster session is taking place, please email LEYEP@wigan.gov.uk.
Continuous Professional Development
Staff working in the early years sector in Wigan can book onto a range of high quality training courses. The costs associated with each course are clearly marked and you will have the opportunity to make your payment directly through the system.
If you have any queries before proceeding please contact us.
Find out more about being a childminder
Childminders play an essential role in supporting families. They provide childcare for a range of ages, from birth to 17 years of age, offering full or part time places for children under the age of five or breakfast and afterschool and holiday care for school age children.
Wigan council offers bespoke training that will support applicants to develop their skills and knowledge to be able to meet the requirements for Registration as a Childminder.
- Pre-Reg Briefing
- Pre-Reg Business Support Session
- 4 X Understanding the requirements for the EYFS sessions
- Level 2 Safeguarding Children training
- 12 Hour Paediatric First Aid Training
- Level 2 Basic Food Hygiene
- Pre-Reg final briefing
- Application support with home visit.
The Local Authority runs regular information briefings for those interested in becoming a registered childminder. For further information please email the Early Years Team.
What to do next
If you are interested in any of these opportunities please contact us for an information pack and enrol onto the next available course.