Childcare Apprenticeships

Do you aim to work with children? Wondering the best route into this career path? Childcare apprenticeships are a chance to earn money while you are training and gain valuable experience, as we explore below.

Benefits of a Childcare Apprenticeship

There are lots of benefits to taking an apprenticeship in this area, and in fact, a level 2 childcare apprenticeship is one of the most popular career paths in the UK.

Benefits of these apprenticeship schemes include:

• Learn on the job. This means you can earn a salary while you are working towards a qualification.
• Gain childcare experience. You will work with children and childcare professionals who can help you to develop your skills.
• Boost career prospects. Childcare apprenticeships are a great way to get started in childcare and provide a good foundation for future study or employment opportunities, including management roles such as nursery manager jobs.

What Qualifications Can I Work Towards?

Getting a qualification is one of the key benefits, and you can find both level 2 and level 3 childcare apprenticeship programmes, there are even some level 4 apprenticeships.

For example, the Early Years Educator apprenticeship takes 18 months and results in a level 3 award.

Level 2 Early Years Practitioner courses are also popular and take just 12 months to complete. Some employers tag functional skills qualifications on, too.

Skills You Need to Work With Children

Not everyone has the right skillset to work with children. What sort of skills will you need for this kind of apprenticeship?

• Patience. This is essential, as working with children can be challenging at times.
• Good communication skills. You will need to be able to talk to parents, other professionals and of course, the children themselves.
• Creativity. This is important for activities and playtime.
• Organisational skills. Children need routine and structure, so you will need to be able to organise activities, childcare and playtime.

How Do I Find Childcare Apprenticeships?

There are many ways to find childcare apprenticeship vacancies, so it is worth looking at our jobs page to see if there are any roles near you that may be suitable. You may find the perfect employer, who is happy to guide you through your apprenticeship.

FAQs

How long is a level 3 childcare apprenticeship?

A level 3 apprenticeship can take up to 18 months.

What jobs can you get in childcare?

There are many childcare jobs you can get, this includes roles such as childcare assistant and childcare manager.

What do childcare apprenticeships involve?

You will work in a childcare setting as well as studying towards your qualification. You may need to complete functional skills qualifications or other training modules in order to gain an award at the end of your programme.

What childcare qualifications do I need?

You will be expected to have a level of experience with childcare, although this may not necessarily be formal childcare training. Many employers offer childcare apprenticeships at all levels so you should find one that suits your current skill set and experience.