Becoming an early years practitioner

Find out about what early years practitioners do and how to become an early years practitioner.

High quality early years experiences improve children’s long-term wellbeing and life chances. This means that early years practitioners have a direct impact on the lives of the young children that they are working with.

What early years practitioners do

Early years practitioners are specialists who work with children from birth to 5 years old in Ofsted registered settings, such as day nurseries, pre-schools, playgroups and maintained and independent nursery schools.

Job roles vary from nursery assistants to early years teachers and childminders. You can find more information on our becoming a childminder page.

Early years practitioners provide early education in a safe, fun and engaging environment. They support children with their learning and development. They ensure the wellbeing of the children they care for, ensuring all children feel safe, welcome and have their needs understood and met. This is what empowers children to thrive and grow.

Early years practitioners support their settings to deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework. This is set by the Department for Education (DfE) and provides clear guidance on what early years practitioners must do to help children learn and develop, and be healthy and safe.

Day to day tasks might include:

  • creating a safe, secure and inclusive environment where all children can thrive and grow
  • supporting children’s learning through play and exploration
  • observing and assessing children’s progress and planning the next steps to support their learning and development
  • building strong and trusting relationships with parents and carers
  • being a key person for a small group of children
  • liaising with other professionals, including family support workers, social workers and health professionals such as health visitors
  • participating in team meetings and attending training or other professional development opportunities

Managers in early years and childcare settings also supervise staff and run the business. This includes recruitment, finance and marketing.

What makes great early years practitioners

Some of the qualities that make great early years practitioners are:

  • enjoying being with children and having an interest in how children learn and grow
  • being a good communicator and a great listener
  • having a positive, upbeat personality and good sense of humour
  • genuinely caring, being respectful, and empathetic
  • being imaginative, creative and passionate about learning
  • being friendly, trustworthy, flexible and a team player
  • being hardworking, punctual and organised
  • having an understanding of maths

Routes into early years

There are many routes people take to start a career in the early years and childcare sector. Some people join the sector straight from school as an apprentice. Others may study a qualification first. Some join the sector later in life as part of a career or lifestyle change.

It is possible to be employed as a nursery assistant without an early years and childcare qualification. But many settings will want you to hold at least a full and relevant level 2 early years and childcare qualification. As a manager, supervisor or leader, you would need to have as a minimum a full and relevant level 3 early years and childcare qualification.

Find out more about:

If you already have an early years qualification you can check to see if it is full and relevant.

It is also good practice to complete the following training:

  • Paediatric first aid
  • Safeguarding
  • Food hygiene

You can access these courses via the West Sussex early years and childcare training and support programme.

Working in different types of early years provision

Day nurseries

Day nurseries can care for children from birth to 5 years and are often open from 8.00am until 6.00pm.

Many day nurseries allocate staff working hours using shifts. This is to cover the opening hours and these shifts might involve early starts or late finishes.

Working in a day nursery is a year-round role, so gives a guaranteed year-round salary. You will get the opportunity to work with a wide range of age groups.

You could become an expert in an age group – babies for example, or toddlers.

Pre-schools (playgroups) and local authority maintained nursery schools and classes

Pre-schools (playgroups) and local authority maintained nursery schools and classes generally take children aged 2 to 5 years.

They often open during school hours, so operate shorter days and will be open term-time only – this means your salary, although paid across the full year, will also be term-time only.

They often offer sessional childcare, so you may have different groups of children in the morning and in the afternoon.

Sometimes pre-schools (playgroups) are pack-away, meaning they share the space they operate in and need to get everything out at the beginning of the day and pack everything away at the end of the session.

Progression

You can develop your skills and qualifications through training. This could be via work-based qualifications, short courses and e-learning. For example, you could progress from level 2 qualification to a level 3.

This would enable you, together with relevant experience, to apply for a role as a supervisor, leader or manager. You could then work towards a Degree in Early Childhood Studies and Early Years Teacher Status.

Please note, the EYFS statutory framework requires staff holding a level 3 Early Years Educator qualification to also hold a suitable level 2 qualification in English to count within staff: child ratios. Managers appointed on or after 1 January 2024 must also have already achieved a suitable level 2 qualification in maths or must do so within 2 years of starting in the position.