Different types of childcare settings

For those who want to work with children there are several ways to go and a career in this kind of work can be very rewarding!

There are 4 different types of childcare:

1. Early Years
2. Children and Young People
3. Residential
4. Teaching Assistant

We've put together a guide on what the differences are and the common settings you could be working in.

What are Early Years?

The Early Years childcare generally relates to the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage). This is the standard that is set out for education and care of 0-5-year-olds. This is the first stage of a child's development and education. It ends when the child starts Key Stage 1.

Anyone who works in a nursery will tell you that a typical day just does not exist! Although there will be routines to follow, people working in nurseries have, as their first priority, the children they care for, and if things need to change to help them, they will. You will generally find days split into two sessions before and after lunch. Children may come for a couple of hours or the whole day while some attend every day and others just a couple sessions of work. Caring for such young children is to help them develop through play and to take care of their needs, which can be very rewarding indeed.

What are Children and Young People?

Children and Young People technically cover from ages birth to 19 years old, but any qualification you achieve in CYP will generally be a broader overview of all ages. If you are more interested in working with children from 5-19, this would be a better option. Children from 5 and upwards tend to require less attention than those who are 0-5 years (more in the sense of moving around and learning how the world works). This creates new jobs for the childcare workers as they will be focusing on more of how to educate them. As most children from 5 and up, that aren’t in residential childcare, will be living with their parents/guardians, any childcare worker will have more attention on education and/or activities.

With a qualification in the Children and Young People’s Workforce you will have a lot of different opportunities open to you, from a youth worker to a safeguarding or residential role. You could specialise in play work or become a support worker. This is an area that encompasses a lot of areas working with children and can also have good career progression.

Children and Young People settings differ and can intermingle with other qualifications. There are no general settings you would be in, as it really depends on what your ultimate goal is to become. If you were mainly interested in caring for birth – 5 years old, you would want to go for an Early Years diploma.

What is Residential Childcare?

Caring for children in a residential care setting takes a very definite set of skills as these children may often be traumatised and difficult to manage, with challenging behaviour at times. The course we run will qualify you to do this kind of work, and although it will certainly have its challenges at times, people who work in this setting get a lot of satisfaction from being able to help children who have suffered loss or trauma and help them to make sense of what is happening in their lives. Form a career in this setting you can progress to more senior roles.

You can learn more about residential childcare here

Example types of residential childcare settings:

• Boarding school residential houses – this is where pupils will live and socialise outside of their school hours but on the same grounds as their school
• Children's homes/group care – this can be generic home for children of different ages and needs (such as asylum seekers)
• Specially commissioned provision for single children – Where children cannot safely be placed with their peers or where no suitable establishment can be identified, a specific placement may be created
• Therapeutic/ high support units – For children with complex needs who cannot be cared for in mainstream settings and who need a range of specialist support, such as therapy or on-site education. They have a higher staff ratio per child and offer a therapeutic milieu.
• Secure care – Locked establishments taking children who are deemed to be a risk to themselves or others and/or who have committed offences.
• Supported accommodation in preparation for independence – Accommodation for older adolescents preparing to live independently. They may live in groups, with a resident or non-resident staff offering support.

What is a Teaching Assistant?

Working in at schools, as a teacher’s assistant can be a great way to use the skills that you have in other childcare, like youth or nursery work. This can also be a good way of showing a prospective employer that you have good experience in working with children. Each school will have its own entry requirements. When you have your own children, this is a great way to work with children and benefit from school holidays. The input of a good teaching can make a really important impact on the life of a child.

The only setting you would be in as a teaching assistant is a primary school teaching assistant and you would be assigned to one classroom, one teacher.

You could work in a public or private school but the age range would have to be the younger children between 5-11 years old. If you are interested in secondary school teaching, you will need more qualifications in a chosen field.

The courses that we offer will offer you exciting opportunities if you want to work in the very rewarding area of childcare. There is a lot of variety and a lot to aim for in this area of work.

So how do I start working in childcare?

You will need training first.

Most students will go and get a qualification.

This is because it tends to be what most managers will seek when combing through CVs before experience. In fact, just enrolling on your course is enough for managers to consider you. It shows you have taken the initiative to progress yourself.

Get in touch with a representative now for more information on 0208 342 7210