Maybe you enjoy being at home with your little ones, but realise it’s time to earn some money, learn new skills or take some steps towards getting a job. It’s not always easy to find work to fit around the children and often, you can’t go back to what you were doing before you had them. So, now’s your chance to get creative when deciding what you want to do.
There are lots of things to think about when deciding what to do next but lots of parents use this time to choose to do something they’ve always wanted to do. If you have ever thought about working with children, right now is a good time to try. You will meet people working in childcare, such as childminders or nannies, at parent and baby or toddler groups or children’s centres. Ask them what their work is like.
Even though there are some things you need to do for a job in childcare to keep the children safe and help them develop well, every day is different, and often fun and rewarding! You could be preparing snacks, playing in a sandpit, cutting and sticking, or joining in with a group singing session. How many jobs can you say that about?
It’s more than fun and games
If playing with children, cutting and sticking, telling stories, taking outings to farms and soft play sounds like fun to you, then exploring the idea of working with children as a childminder assistant might be a good place to start. But it’s more than fun and games; childminders are also well qualified childcare professionals running their own businesses who work within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in England and to regulatory requirements in Wales and are trained in first aid and safeguarding.
If a childminder takes on an assistant, it means they can often look after more children. They’ll have someone to help out and bounce ideas off, as well as someone who is a good back up in an emergency, which is always reassuring for parents.
One-to-one support
And becoming a childminding assistant is an ideal introduction to working with children as you get the childminder’s one-to-one support, a comfortable home setting and a small group of children.
The busy childminders in your area might be the best ones to approach about becoming an assistant, as they are the ones likely to need help. If you become an assistant, you will need to take first aid training, have a DBS check, and learn about child development, safeguarding and the EYFS. The childminder will be able to support you and point you in the right direction for what you need to do.
Iron out the details
Before you accept a job as a childminding assistant, make sure the childminder has thought through all the details and you are clear about what you will do, who is responsible for what and how much you will be paid and when. Ask for a job description and contract that details the hours you will work, your duties and pay.
Find out everything you need to know about becoming a childminder assistant in England and Wales.