Working in childcare

For information on working within the childcare field please contact the Blaenau Gwent Family Information Service on 08000 32 33 39.

The FIS can provide booklets, leaflets and details with specific information on how to get into this rewarding career.

To get a career and progress in childcare it is crucial for you to undertake some high quality training in Early Years Childcare and Playwork. Children and families need well-qualified professionals who are sensitive to their needs and have the expertise and experience to support them.

Experience of looking after your own or another family member's children is always useful, but following a recognised training course will equip you with the skills to do your job well and to understand and appreciate a child's development.

A range of relevant qualifications are available at local colleges. These can be on a full-time, part-time or day release basis. Other training such as National Vocational Qualifications can take place on the job, at your own pace.

The Open University also offers an NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development (CCLD) via distance learning, where you learn in your own time at a pace that suits you.

Financial help and training may be available from College Access funds - contact your local college or your Early Years Development & Childcare Partnership for details. Or you could access support through the Genesis Project on 08000 32 33 39.

Some of the Qualifications Available

For Nursery Work

Starting as a trainee you'd usually work towards NVQ Level 2 in Children's Care, Learning and Development (CCLD), in a supervised position in a day care setting, progressing to Level 3 on the job.

For Manager or Supervisor level, nurseries are usually looking for -

NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development (CCLD), or
CACHE (the Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education) Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education (this used to be known as the NNEB Diploma in Nursery Nursing).

For Pre-Schools and Playgroups

As a trainee you'd usually start off by working towards becoming an Assistant in a supervised role in a pre-school or playgroup setting. The main qualification for this is:

CACHE NVQ Level 2 in Children's Care, Learning and Development (CCLD), or
NCFE NVW Level 2 Learning and Development (which you can do through Parents Plus). You could then progress to a Managerial or Supervisory position on the job.

The main qualification for Pre-Schools and Playgroups is:

CACHE Diploma in Playgroup Practice (Wales).
CACHE NVQ Level 3 in CCLD.

For Childminding

All new Childminders will need to complete a short pre-registration course within the first six months. Many are also working towards qualifications to help them provide a better service to children and families, and to assist their career development. The most usual qualification taken by Childminders (encompassing the pre-registration course) is:

Diploma in Home Based Childcare (a vocational qualification at Level 3, run by CACHE, the Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education, in association with the National Childminding Association).

For Playwork

There are a number of short introductory courses available that will give you the background and basic skills needed to work in an out of school setting. One example that you may like to consider is:

A Taste of Play - a 2 hour taster course - followed by:
Introduction to Play - 16 hour course.
As a trainee you would usually begin working towards a Level 2 qualification to become an Assistant Playworker.
You may then choose to progress towards a Supervisory role by gaining a Level 3 qualification. The main qualification for each of these is:
NVQ Levels 2 and 3 in Playwork.
Higher level qualifications in Playwork include:
The NVQ Level 4 in Playwork.
The Management Charter Initiative NVQ Levels 4 and 5.
This can also be used for management of other Early Years, Childcare and Playwork settings.

The Childcare Approval Scheme Wales verifies whether an applicant has a suitable childcare qualification, has undergone appropriate and recent first aid training and carries out an enhanced CRB check on the applicant. The CAS considers a suitable qualification to be a minimum of an NVQ level 2 or equivalent qualification in childcare or playwork. There is a charge for registering with the CAS Wales.

For more information visit www.childcareapprovalschemewales.co.uk

Some Useful Publications

Choosing Childcare: Click Here to Download

Play, Learn, Grow: Click Here to Download

Further useful links can be found below:

• www.cache.org.uk/CacheDnn
• www.childreninwales.org.uk
• www.playlearngrowwales.gov.uk/
• http://www.ndna.org.uk/
• http://www.walesppa.org/