Please talk to me about qualifications....

[hohohoshedittant]

I didn't go into nannying via the traditional route. I have a degree in a subject that is related to childcare, have done the ICP and have experience. I don't have a specific nanny or childcare qualification.

What I'm wondering is what qualifications you have and do you feel they improve your work? My CV is good with what I have and I've never had trouble finding work so not looking for something that will just make my CV better/appeal to parents, but something that will actually make me better at my job, that can't be gained from experience.

What have you done? How did it help your work? What would you recommend?

Whilst we could say what courses we have done, those courses may not directly make us better at our job.

I've done a fire awareness course, does that make me better at my job? Probably not, as you don't generally have a fire at work - but in the event of a fire perhaps it would mean I would react faster/differently to if I hadn't done the course.

Well exactly! That's why I want to know which qualifications you feel did make you better at your job.

I think a lot of courses/qualifications are done for the benefit of OFSTED/improving CV's. I want to know which ones had actual real-life value.

Fire safety is probably a good one. I always feel First Aid is one if the ones that is actually of real benefit and goes beyond experience/basic common sense.

To give you excellent skills within your childcare career, lots of courses are good to make different areas of job, such as observation and assesment, storytelling, ey framework, infection control, nutrition and food hygiene. These courses and many more, give you a different look on how to approach
and improve your skills.

Do you have any examples of specific courses littlewillows and would you know where I could find out more about them/who runs them etc?

(and also a bump because someone must have done a qualification/course they found useful)