How to get a job in a nursery without experience

To finish a Level 3 Diploma course, you will need to be in the nursery setting, but you don’t have to be in this setting to enrol. You can start the course by completing enrolment, induction and then your first few theory assignments over the next three months while you look for a position. The moment you enrol, you can put “Currently Enrolled on the Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner” right at the top of your CV. This then advertises yourself to future employers as a responsible candidate who has taken the initiative to start the training. Some nurseries will need you to be trained and sometimes will pay for the training themselves. However, if you don’t have the experience, they may end up skipping your CV overall. So you’ll win points if you’ve done the training for them.

Many pre-schools and nurseries are low on staff and resources and will welcome any new volunteers to help them out. You may have seen in the recent news that to cut down the cost of living, the government has reduced the staff:child ratios so that each adult can care for 5 two-year-olds instead of 4 as it now stands. Any volunteers will be accepted to help with this current new beginning.

You’ll need to complete a DBS check (stands for Disclosure and Barring Service) which basically clears you to work with children. Once you receive the certificate, you can pop an email over to local nurseries and ask if they need any assistance. Especially if it’s free, how could they say no!? The best part is that if a paid position opens up, you could apply immediately, or the job may be offered to you first before it is posted publicly.