Considering a Career in Child Care?

A career in child care is one the most rewarding professions out there. It is meant for those who love spending time helping and nurturing children. However, it is not for everyone because it does require you to have certain personality traits. Being a child carer, you're playing an important part in a child's development. And that point alone makes a career in child care one of the most satisfying careers. If you're reading this, then chances are that you're interested in pursuing a career in child care. To get into child care, there are a number of routes you can take. But for this blog post, I have made it easier for you by outlining the most common route into child care through the following four steps:

1. Test The Waters With Baby Sitting

If you're really passionate about child care but you're unsure if it is the right career path for you, then you can test the waters (so to say) through babysitting. It is very easy to get into babysitting. Parent always cherish to have some time away from their kids (parenting can be difficult at times). But they'll only hand over the reigns of their kids to someone they can trust. So you can always ask relatives/friends, who have kids of their own, to arrange a time for you to look after their kids whilst they're away. And if you do a good job, you'll probably get a another chance.

2. Get A First Aid Qualification

Having a first aid qualification really improves your prospects in child care. As a matter of fact, most parents expect their babysitters or child carer to hold a first aid qualification. At the moment, Ofsted registered nannies and child carers are required to have a first aid qualification. And also, most nurseries and child care providers are assessed through Ofsted as well. So I highly advise that you make the time and investment to get a first aid qualification.

3. Volunteer At A Nursery

To make your first step into a career in child care, you would need to gain some experience in a child care setting. And the best way to do that is to volunteer in a nursery. Simply going on to Google directory and search for nurseries in the local area and you'll find a host of nurseries in your local and surrounding area. All you have to do is make contact and ask them if you can work as a volunteer as a child carer. Most nurseries would welcome the extra support. Some nurseries will invite you in for an interview to get understanding of your personality. And you will also be asked to complete a DBS form (i.e. a criminal record check).

4. Gain Child Care Qualifications

One you've secured a voluntary position at a nursery or a different child care setting, then it is just a matter of completing the necessary qualifications whilst you are gaining that all important experience. Having accredited child care qualifications really does benefit you in the long term. And it should be seen as an investment. To give you an idea of how these qualifications help you, take a look at the expected salary earnings for each level of qualification:

• Level 2 Diploma - expect to earn a minimum of £15,000 per annum.
• Level 3 Diploma - this qualifications enable you to become a team leader or a senior staff member. And can help you earn a minimum of £22,000 per annum.
• Level 5 Diploma - qualifies you to become a manager where you could expect to earn anywhere from a minimum of £33,000 to £50,000.

How Can The Learning Station Help You?

Following on from the last step, The Learning Station can help you achieve your dream of pursuing a career in child care. Our fully accredited qualifications are taught through distance learning. Meaning, you can study at your own pace and in your own time. And help is only a few clicks away. The Learning Station has been helping many individuals establish themselves in the child care industry. And at a competitive price too. So if you want to join the many customers that we've helped, please take a moment to look through our child care courses page and register your interest. Featured image: Pexels