Starting or switching to a career in early years

Want a job you love? Are you thinking of starting a career in early years? Perhaps you are looking to switch career and want to work with children, giving Slough’s next generation the best start in life?

Whatever your reasons, working in early years and childcare can be fun, exciting and incredibly rewarding, with lots of different job opportunities across the sector.

So, if you’ve often wondered whether you could make the switch and change to a career in early years and childcare, you might be surprised at just how easy it could be.

Types of roles

There are many different roles associated with the profession, ranging from managerial roles to hands-on assistant jobs. Of course, if you intend to work in early years and childcare, it’s safe to say you think you’re good working with children. But it’s best to have an idea of a more specific role, so 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, with in preschools and playgroups, childminding and playwork.

To help you work out what steps to take to begin your early years and childcare career, you will need to decide what type of role you would like to move into. There a many different roles and career path you chose will determine your next steps. The National Careers Service website outlines details and pathways for a number of roles which you may find helpful. Additionally please read the various case studies of people already working in early years and childcare in Slough.

Once you have an idea of the role that you would like to do, it is quite likely that you will need to think about obtaining a relevant qualification. There are many providers locally that offer early years and childcare qualifications.

Finding a job or voluntary position

If you already have the relevant qualifications and would like to find a job or a volunteering position please take a look at our jobs section on the National Careers Service website for more information.

Book a telephone appointment

To book a telephone appointment to discuss your early years and childcare career options please call 01753 476589 or email earlyyears@slough.gov.uk.

Find out more at our next information session!

If you are thinking about a career in working with children then you can find out about the options available to you by attending an early years and childcare information session.

The session will cover the different job roles that are available when working with children. This will include information about becoming a childminder or working with children in an early years and childcare setting or school. Information about training requirements will also be provided. You can also find out about fostering and other family placement services.

Information sessions are available each term and usually last for 2 hours. Unfortunately children are not permitted at the sessions.