Becoming an Early Years Practitioner

Early Years practitioners look after young children in a setting. This includes:

• Day Nursery’s
• Pre-school’s
• Children’s Centres
• Independent Schools
• Schools with Nurseries
• Wrap around care provision.

If you are passionate about providing the best outcomes for children, this could be the ideal career choice for you.

You will need the following abilities:
• A knowledge and understanding of how children learn and develop
• to provide quality care that meets the needs of families
• to provide children with a nurturing and inspirational environment
• to support the children’s individual growth and development
• a commitment to professional development by attending on-going training
• to work in partnership with parents/carers and other professional agencies
• to become part of the childcare community in Southend

What you will need to become a childcare practitioner:
• Full and recognised level 2 or above childcare qualification.
• Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Completed with a college or employer.
• Once qualified a Full Paediatric First Aid or Emergency Paediatric First Aid must be completed. This needs to be within 3 months of starting work. This will enable you to be included in staff:child ratios.

Links:
• Inspection Framework
• EYFS

Childminders look after children of all ages in their own home.  If you love working with children, it could be the ideal career for you.

Becoming a childminder will allow you to:

• run your own business from home choosing the hours you work and the services you provide
• fit your business around your lifestyle

• provide children with a happy and inspirational environment
• support the children that you care for to grow and develop

• provide quality care that meets the needs of families
• become part of the childcare community in Southend

 You will need the following qualities:

• an understanding of, or a desire to learn, how children learn and develop
• commitment to professional development by attending on-going training
• ability to work in partnership with parents/carers and other professional agencies
• ability to run your own business by keeping good records to ensure its viability

Find out more about becoming a childminder as well as tips from those already running a successful childminding business

Find out the costs involved in registering

Check out this short video about childminding

Are you thinking about becoming a childminder in Southend?

Come to one of our free sessions.  The session will help you decide if childminding is right for you.

• Find out what’s involved in registering with Ofsted as a childminder
• Find out about the EYFS and other training

To book a session or if you have any questions contact earlyyears@southend.gov.uk

Useful links:

How do I register as an Early Years Provider

What happens in an early years inspection

Register with Ofsted – what to expect from the registration visit