Choosing Early Years as a career

Are you interested in early education and childcare as a career?

Are you interested in a career working with young children and their families? Do you have a passion for nurturing young children, supporting their early learning and providing play activities that enable them to explore and develop?

If you do, then early years could be the career for you.

Early Years workers enjoy working with children, they are nurturing, caring and have a genuine interest in each individual child's wellbeing, development and early learning through play. They take a pride in children's achievements and encourage them to flourish and grow. They play an integral role in helping them develop through fun activities.

As a practitioner, you will laugh, smile and your day might be just as fun for you as it is for the children. Furthermore, you will have the immense satisfaction of seeing children develop skills and knowledge that they will use throughout their entire lives.

Childcare is an exciting, rewarding career and there are plenty of routes available for people who want to work with children.

By using the links below, you can view information on a range of careers in early education and childcare and explore the opportunities for progression within them.

Introduction to careers in early education and childcare

Early Years Progression map

Encouraging more people into the early years sector

If you are already working in the childcare and early years sector and want to get involved in raising awareness of a career in the sector, view our guidance and suggestions