High quality childcare plays a pivotal role providing the opportunity for the best start in life for all children and central to this is the childcare workforce. Working in the childcare sector can be an extremely rewarding career choice. As a dedicated childcare worker, you are fundamental to children’s growth and development providing them with education, experiences and care, an essential part in helping children fulfil their potential.
- Find a job in childcare with LCC – Search the LCC jobs page for childcare roles
- Search roles in childcare on Job centre Plus or Indeed
- Find an apprenticeship – You may want to find a suitable apprenticeship
- Colleges and sixth form in Lincolnshire – Contact your local colleges or if you are a school leaver your 6th form to find out what childcare courses they offer.
- Universities – You may want to consider studying at university
- Volunteering in Lincolnshire - You may want to volunteer at your local childcare setting to gain some valuable experience.
- Becoming a childminder
- Education and Early Years Career Toolkit
Becoming a childminder
Childminders work from their own homes providing care and education to other people’s children. They are self-employed, registered with Ofsted and run their businesses around their own family commitments. If you are interested in becoming a childminder, you may be entitled to start up grant to support the costs of you registering and growing your business. Please watch our short film where we hear from one of Lincolnshire’s childminders about their typical day.
For more information on becoming a childminder :
- Apply for a childminder start-up grant
- Becoming a childminder and running your business
- Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY)
- Becoming a childminder
To access a free pre-registration information briefing, email: eyworkforcedevelopment@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Routes into childcare
There are many routes you may take to start your career in childcare, you may be joining the sector straight from school or looking to join later in life. You may want to join as an apprentice or go to university first, which ever way the information below will help you in finding your route.
- Colleges and sixth form in Lincolnshire – Contact your local colleges or if you are a school leaver your sixth form to find out what childcare courses they offer.
- Universities – You may want to consider studying at university
- Volunteering in Lincolnshire - You may want to volunteer at your local childcare setting to gain some valuable experience.
- Becoming a childminder
- Find an apprenticeship – You may want to find a suitable apprenticeship
- Find a job in childcare with LCC – Search the LCC jobs page for childcare roles within schools
- Education and Early Years Career Toolkit
Men in childcare
In a female dominated workforce men are vastly underrepresented yet having a diverse staff team can be hugely beneficial to children, breaking down stereotypes and helping children understand that gender has nothing to do with what you want to achieve in life. In our short film we meet 3 men who work in the childcare workforce in Lincolnshire.
If you feel that a career in childcare is the right choice for you, take a look at our routes into childcare section.
Playworker
Play work refers to the skilled profession that provides enriching play spaces for children of school age. Usually employed within an afterschool and or holiday club, a playworker is an essential part of the childcare workforce, supporting children with their transition to and from school every day. You do not need any formal qualification to become a playworker, just a love of children. However, there are formal qualifications you can take to enhance your knowledge and skills.
Skills needed:
- Excellent listening skills and a responsible and caring attitude
- Patience and tolerance
- Creativity
- Have organisational skills
- The ability to work well as part of a team
- Be able to take responsibility
In our short video we meet play workers in Lincolnshire.
For more information about playwork - Out of School Alliance
Find a job in childcare with LCC – search the LCC jobs page for playworker roles within Lincolnshire schools
- Search roles in childcare on Job centre Plus or Indeed
- Find an apprenticeship – You may want to find a suitable apprenticeship
Change in career to childcare
Not everyone starts their childcare career straight from school, often life changes and you may want or need to take your career in a different direction. In this short film we hear from 5 people who did just that and never looked back.
If you would like to explore a new career in childcare, take a look at the routes into childcare section.