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A view of the early years and childcare workforce from 2016: Alex's Story
I'm Alex and I started my career as an out of school care worker in the voluntary sector in 2006. I qualified as an early years and childcare practitioner mainly by training in the out of school club, with some work placements in other centres.
In 2008 I moved to a local authority pre-school centre as a practitioner. My existing qualification allowed me to work as an early years worker, but I undertook some continuous professional development to help me improve my skills and knowledge in working with younger children, e.g. in child development and delivering the curriculum. Once I had completed that, I went on to do further courses in leadership as I took on increasing responsibility in the centre.
At the end of 2012 I felt I wanted a change and moved to a deputy management position in a nursery in the private sector. My knowledge of working with different professionals involved in children's lives was a big asset there, as there were several children who needed intensive support of one form or another. I had to learn a lot in a short space of time about managing a centre which operates all day, with children attending in every pattern imaginable, including out of school care for older children.
I knew I wanted to become the manager of a centre one day, but that in order to register as a manager/lead practitioner I would have to gain a degree or equivalent level qualification. I took some advice and was told the continuous professional development I had already completed in my previous job could count towards a new leadership qualification which had recently been developed. I spoke to the owner of the nursery and she agreed to support me with the additional study required. Together with my manager and the local college and university, I agreed the additional learning I needed. It involved a short research project which I was able to do in my nursery, and it really helped me think about how to adapt what I do to meet each child's needs. It was hard work, but I was able to complete it within a year.
A year or so later a friend of mine told me about a couple of posts being advertised. One was for a manager of a new local authority extended day nursery centre which delivered all-day services for children and families in partnership with the voluntary sector and the other was for the manager of a family centre. Because of the experience I had gained in managing all day flexible services in the private nursery, I felt I was a strong candidate for both posts and I knew I had the right qualifications. Sure enough, here I am managing a family centre catering for over 100 children a week and providing family support and a whole range of other services.
I never thought when I started in the out of school cub that I would have a degree level qualification and be managing a big centre like this. My family are as proud as can be and I'm pretty proud of myself too. I still see quite a few of the people I have worked with down the years and most of them are still in the sector. A few have moved into management like me but a lot of them have decided to stay working in the front line, doing a whole variety of jobs.
One of my best friends now works with me here in the family centre. We met back when we were both nursery nurses and she had just joined from college. She decided to develop her skills in working with children with additional support needs because she enjoyed that part of the job and wanted to stay working with children rather than doing management. She now has a promoted post specialising in additional support needs and, as well as being a key worker, she plays a big role in providing guidance for students and colleagues here at the centre. We often talk about how things have changed in the sector when we go out after work, and there is no doubt that it is a real career with good prospects now. I have to admit I miss not spending as much time in the playroom as I used to, but a really important part of my job is still with the children, supporting my staff to develop their own skills and careers as much as I can.
Alex
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