Working in a nursery

If you would like to work with children aged from birth to 5 years, a career in a nursery could be the right choice. There are lots of different opportunities available working with babies, watching them grow, supporting them in their pre-school activities and providing an exciting and stimulating environment.

Nurseries can range in size and generally operate between 8.00am and 6.00pm, Monday to Friday, and are open all year round. Most have separate rooms or areas for groups of babies, toddlers and pre-school children. They may be operating as a private business, a voluntary or community organisation or be a nursery school or linked to a school.

Children attend nurseries for a variety of reasons; for pre-school education or for peer companionship and interaction, or if their parents are working or in education.

As an entry point into the Early Years Workforce, you could work as a Trainee Nursery Assistant without having a childcare qualification. However, you'll need to have the desire and academic ability to undertake on the job training to achieve a minimum level 2 qualification.

There are good opportunities for promotion, and with further qualifications and training you can progress to being a level 3 Practitioner, Supervisor, Deputy Manager or Manager.