How Can You Start Your Career in Early Years?
Are you drawn to studying Early Years but want to know about your career prospects? Or perhaps you are part-way through your course and are interested in finding out more about your options?
At Weston College, we offer a variety of exciting and industry-relevant Early Years courses, from our Level 1 pathway in Caring for Children to our Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship and T Level in Education and Childcare. We also offer a variety of Adult courses in these areas including our Level 3 Early Years Educator NFCE CACHE Diploma and Level 3 Education and Training.
Read on to find out where your career in Early Years can begin!
Educator
Early Years Educators’ play a crucial role within children’s lives, supporting them to begin their education as well as nurturing them in their development of social skills, language and physical coordination. It is the job of an Early Years Educator to create a safe and secure environment where children have space to flourish and evolve, helping them to gain independence and self-assurance. As a specialist in early childhood development, this role is well-respected and incredibly rewarding, meaning you’ll never be short of job satisfaction!
Potential Duties:
Prepare lessons and activities
Help children learn through play
Communicate with parents/carers about children’s development
Average Salary: £25K-£36K
Classroom Teaching Assistant
A Teaching Assistant's primary duties include supporting the teacher by helping children with daily activities like reading and writing, as well as providing any additional support when necessary. Encouraging children to believe in themselves and gain independence, an Early Years Teaching Assistant plays an integral role within the classroom and is sure to have a lasting impact on a child’s early childhood development.
Potential Duties:
Assist teachers in preparing lessons and activities
Supervise children in group activities
Support children when they are upset or unwell
Average Salary: £12K-£23K
Special Educational Needs Teaching Assistant
A Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Teaching Assistant provides support to a teacher by helping children with physical, behavioural, or understanding difficulties. This can be in a mainstream or SEND setting and may be working within a whole class or on a 1-1 basis. Although at times challenging, this career can be an incredibly rewarding on! As a SEND Teaching Assistant, you will play an essential role in the progression and development of children with SEND.
Potential Duties:
Help teacher prepare lessons and activities
Intuitively adapt support according to learner’s needs
Communicate and co-ordinate with other professionals such Physiotherapists and Speech and Language Therapists
Average Salary: £12K-£23K
Nanny
Description: Nannies, sometimes referred to as Au Pairs, provide care for their employer’s babies and children. A Nanny’s work schedule can change enormously from employer to employer. Some may live with a family, taking care of the child(ren) throughout the day, along with running errands and overseeing daily household chores. Alternatively, some nannies will only work certain days or hours. This all depends on the need of the family and the terms of your contract.
Potential Duties:
Feed, bath and dress children
Pick up/drop off children at nursery/school
Take children on outings
Average Salary: Variable
Children’s Holiday Rep
Description: When it comes to giving children a positive and fun experience on holiday, no one can contend with a Children’s Holiday Rep! Planning engaging and enjoyable activities, providing entertainment and creating a safe a secure environment, Children’s Holiday Reps are integral to providing care and bringing joy to children during their stay.
Potential Duties:
Organise and supervising exciting activities throughout the day
Be responsible for children’s safety
Record and report any accidents and incidents
Average Salary: £450-£800 p/m (Plus the added benefit of free accommodation and free/discounted meals
If any of these career paths sound like the one for you, take a look at our School Leavers (16-19) and Adult courses in Early Years to help you learn, train and begin the career of your dreams!
Educator
Early Years Educators’ play a crucial role within children’s lives, supporting them to begin their education as well as nurturing them in their development of social skills, language and physical coordination. It is the job of an Early Years Educator to create a safe and secure environment where children have space to flourish and evolve, helping them to gain independence and self-assurance. As a specialist in early childhood development, this role is well-respected and incredibly rewarding, meaning you’ll never be short of job satisfaction!
Potential Duties:
Prepare lessons and activities
Help children learn through play
Communicate with parents/carers about children’s development
Average Salary: £25K-£36K
Classroom Teaching Assistant
A Teaching Assistant's primary duties include supporting the teacher by helping children with daily activities like reading and writing, as well as providing any additional support when necessary. Encouraging children to believe in themselves and gain independence, an Early Years Teaching Assistant plays an integral role within the classroom and is sure to have a lasting impact on a child’s early childhood development.
Potential Duties:
Assist teachers in preparing lessons and activities
Supervise children in group activities
Support children when they are upset or unwell
Average Salary: £12K-£23K
Special Educational Needs Teaching Assistant
A Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Teaching Assistant provides support to a teacher by helping children with physical, behavioural, or understanding difficulties. This can be in a mainstream or SEND setting and may be working within a whole class or on a 1-1 basis. Although at times challenging, this career can be an incredibly rewarding on! As a SEND Teaching Assistant, you will play an essential role in the progression and development of children with SEND.
Potential Duties:
Help teacher prepare lessons and activities
Intuitively adapt support according to learner’s needs
Communicate and co-ordinate with other professionals such Physiotherapists and Speech and Language Therapists
Average Salary: £12K-£23K
Nanny
Description: Nannies, sometimes referred to as Au Pairs, provide care for their employer’s babies and children. A Nanny’s work schedule can change enormously from employer to employer. Some may live with a family, taking care of the child(ren) throughout the day, along with running errands and overseeing daily household chores. Alternatively, some nannies will only work certain days or hours. This all depends on the need of the family and the terms of your contract.
Potential Duties:
Feed, bath and dress children
Pick up/drop off children at nursery/school
Take children on outings
Average Salary: Variable
Children’s Holiday Rep
Description: When it comes to giving children a positive and fun experience on holiday, no one can contend with a Children’s Holiday Rep! Planning engaging and enjoyable activities, providing entertainment and creating a safe a secure environment, Children’s Holiday Reps are integral to providing care and bringing joy to children during their stay.
Potential Duties:
Organise and supervising exciting activities throughout the day
Be responsible for children’s safety
Record and report any accidents and incidents
Average Salary: £450-£800 p/m (Plus the added benefit of free accommodation and free/discounted meals
If any of these career paths sound like the one for you, take a look at our School Leavers (16-19) and Adult courses in Early Years to help you learn, train and begin the career of your dreams!
