At All About Children, we’re nothing without our incredible nursery team. That’s why a large part of our ethos focuses on career progression for our Early Years Practitioners.
If you have a passion for shaping young minds and making a positive impact on children’s lives, becoming an Early Years Practitioner could be the perfect childcare career for you. Read on to learn more about how you can advance in your career as an Early Years Practitioner, while making a significant difference to the lives and education of little ones.
Becoming an Early Years Practitioner
Working as an Early Years Practitioner or educator requires a range of skills, encompassing everything from emotional intelligence and effective communication to good time management and report writing. These skills will support you in playing an essential part in the development of young children. Whether you choose to gain practical experience and training as a childcare apprentice, or pursue a formal education after completing school, there are a number of different paths to becoming an Early Years Practitioner.
Gaining Qualifications
Level 2 Early Years Practitioner
You can achieve a Level 2 childcare qualification within a further education environment – like a college. There could be specific entry requirements for a Level 2, such as GCSEs in English and Maths. With a Level 2 qualification, you can start working as a nursery or preschool assistant, supporting children’s growth and development. The natural career progression for a Level 2 Early Years Practitioner is a Level 3 Practitioner, meaning you’re able to take on more responsibility and advance your career.
Level 3 Early Years Practitioner
For those seeking further career progression, a Level 3 childcare certificate is the next step. This qualification opens doors to greater responsibilities within your role. After this, there are further career progression opportunities, such as becoming a Room Leader, Supervisor or third-in-charge.
Becoming a Room Leader
Developing your Early Years Practitioner role and becoming a Room Leader is your chance to progress your career in childcare while shaping the learning environment. As a Room Leader, you will oversee a specific area or classroom within an early years setting, ensuring a safe and stimulating environment for children to thrive and develop.
You’ll oversee a specific classroom or area within an early years setting and guide room staff in their day-to-day responsibilities. You’ll plan and organise engaging activities in line with the EYFS curriculum, as well as ensuring the nutritional needs of the children are met. This role is a great opportunity to try leadership responsibilities in a childcare environment.
Advancing to a Deputy Nursery Manager
Many of our Early Years Practitioners and Room Leaders develop their careers to become Nursery Deputy Managers, and Nursery Managers. To take this step in your childcare career, an NVQ Level 3 is required, as well as previous experience managing a room.
At All About Children, we support apprentices to complete with their NVQ to help them progress in their childcare career.
Our Deputy Nursery Managers play an integral part in overseeing planning, record keeping and the delivery of regular staff / parent meetings. This allows our Deputy Managers to play a critical role in the day-to-day running of the nursery.
Leadership Roles
Once you have been working in childcare for some time, and if you’d like to progress your career even further, many people choose to manage a nursery environment as a Nursery Manager. Nursery Managers have a number of key responsibilities, including:
- Promoting partnerships with parents/careers and other family members
- Developing working relationships with Local Authorities
- Supporting the nursery staff, including identifying training needs and developing CPD plans
Many of our Nursery Managers at All About Children have progressed further to become Team Leaders, looking after a number of our nursery settings.
In a nursery setting that prides itself on the development opportunities for every staff member, Nursery Managers and Team Leaders have the opportunity to advance their career even further. At All About Children, everyone is given the opportunity to train, develop and thrive in their role. As a Nursery Manager, you’ll be supported with regular regional support from our team leaders.
Take your Next Step with All About Children
There’s plenty of career progression opportunities as an Early Years Practitioner. Now that you have found out more about the variety of different career progression opportunities, please read more about our childcare careers or head to our available vacancies to apply today.