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Qualifications for working in childcare in the UK Qualifications for working in Childcare in the USA Qualifications for working in childcare in the UK:Qualifications versus experience
We include below detailed information on all of the main childcare qualifications currently available in the United Kingdom. It is generally believed that relevant experience is at least as important as qualifications when it comes to choosing a child carer.
NNEB This is regarded as the "Gold Standard" of qualification. NNEB stands for National Nursery Examination Board. You may also hear it referred to as the CACHE Diploma in Nursery Nursing or more recently as the CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Child Care & Education. It is the most widely recognised and commonly encountered qualification. It is taught as a full time two-year diploma course at both local authority and privately owned colleges throughout the country. The Scottish equivalent is called the SCOTVEC. Most colleges require all applicants to have a minimum of three GCSE's at grade 'C' or above for entry onto the course. The training includes, Observation and Assessment, Work with Young Children, Foundations to Caring, The Developing Child, Health and Community Care ,Play Curriculum and Early Learning, Working with Babies in the First Year of Life, Preparation for Employment, The Provision of Services and the Protection of Children, Anti-Discriminatory/Anti-bias Practice, Working with parents, and placements in both family homes and nursery schools. Some Colleges run a 1 year CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Child Care & Education. The entry requirement is lower than that for the Level 3 Diploma being typically 2 GCSE's at grade 'D' or above. NVQ ( National Vocational Qualification) This qualification is based on three levels of competence and may also be referred to as the NVQ Level 2 (or 3) Early Years Care & Education. This is normally offered as a flexible part time course, requires no formal academic qualifications, and is largely driven by advisory workshops run by experienced and qualified trainers. Students study a number of units including care for children's physical needs, social and emotional development, management of behaviour, play activities, working with children, health and safety and the child orientated environment. BTEC ( National Diploma in Nursery Nursing) This is for the more academically orientated nanny and is run as a two-year full time course. You may also hear it referred to as the Edexcel BTEC National Diploma in Early Years. Subjects covered include, Child Care, Early Years Education, Child Health, Special Needs, Design & Technology, Psychology & Sociology. Professional Practice (work experience) is an essential part of the course and students must be successful and attend regularly to achieve the full diploma. One day each week will be spent out on placement in local schools, nurseries, special schools etc. Block placements will take place during the year. The entry level is higher and allows the students to follow a variety of career paths including teaching, nursing etc. Montessori NNEB This is also a farely academic course. It is centred on the theory of child-centred and child-led learning. Students study the Montessori Philosophy in areas such as, Practical Life, Educational Philosophy, Sensorial Education, Mathematics, Montessori Language Development, Enviromental and Cultural Studies, Arts Workshop, Work Experience and Observation Workshop. Students acquire a good understanding of the Educational Method and Philosophy established by Maria Montessori and become competent in the use of this method with children in the 2½ - 6 year age range. The course includes placement in Montessori schools four mornings each week, a one month block-placement, and a college-based programme of study and lectures in the Montessori Philosophy and curriculum. Quality training is assured by an external committee of professional advisers and examiners. Applicants tend to gain further qualifications within the Maria Montessori teachings and become Montessori teachers. City & Guilds ( Family and Community Care Course) This course requires students to have several GCSEs and is taken over a two year period. The course covers a broad range of subjects including care of the elderly, care for the disabled and care of children ranging from 0-5. Qualifications for working in Childcare in the USA:Differences between States
In the USA the type of training and qualifications required to work as a preschool teacher or child-care worker including working e.g. as a nanny for a family varies widely. Each State has its own licensing requirements that regulate caregiver training, ranging from a high school diploma, to community college courses, to a college degree in child development or early childhood education. Some States require continuing education for workers in this field. Whereas in the UK working in childcare, other than working as a childminder, is unregulated, in the USA the minimum level of qualification tends to be prescribed by the State. However, State requirements are often minimal. Local governments, private firms, and publicly funded programs may have more demanding training and education requirements. When looking for work as e.g. a nanny it is therefore necessary to ascertain the qualifications required by the State you propose working in. Because of the wide variation between States it is not feesible to identify qualifications by name here as we have done for the UK, but e.g. a UK NNEB would have its equivalence in each State. In this article 'employers' include families as well as institutions, and 'child-care' workers include e.g. nannies working for families as well as e.g. Nursery School assistants.
Qualifications and training for working in Childcare Some employers prefer to hire preschool teachers or child-care workers with a Nationally recognized child-care development credential. Courses are typically available at secondary or postsecondary level in child development and early childhood education with work experience in a child-care setting. Some institutions employing child-care workers require their own specialized training, and some even stipulate a bachelor's degree and State teacher certification. For example, teacher training programs include a variety of liberal arts courses, courses in child development, student teaching, and prescribed professional courses, including instruction in teaching gifted, disadvantaged, and other children with special needs. Aptitudes for working in childcare Preschool teachers and child-care workers must be enthusiastic and constantly alert, anticipate and prevent problems, deal with disruptive children, and provide fair but firm discipline. They must communicate effectively with the children and their parents, as well as other teachers and child-care workers. Workers should be mature, patient, understanding, and articulate, and have energy and physical stamina. Child-care work requires patience; creativity; an ability to nurture, motivate, teach, and influence children; and leadership, organizational, and administrative skills. Others who work with children and need these aptitudes include teacher assistants, children's tutors, kindergarten and elementary school teachers, early childhood program directors, and child psychologists. Earnings Pay depends on the educational attainment of the worker and establishment type. Although the pay is generally very low, more education means higher earnings in some cases. Earnings of self-employed child-care workers vary depending on the hours worked, number and ages of the children, and the location. Benefits Benefits vary, but are minimal for most preschool and child-care workers. Many employers offer free or discounted child care to employees. Some offer a full benefits package, including health insurance and paid vacations, but others offer no benefits at all. Some employers offer seminars and workshops to help workers improve upon or learn new skills. A few are willing to cover the cost of courses taken at community colleges or technical schools. | ||||||||||||
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