Childcare career ideas please?

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

I have decided to give up on childcare in the UK for now and am hoping to get a job in seasonal work again but as a childcare rep for the next few years.

However I can't help but think of my future and what I want to work towards and do when I get back so I thought I'd ask here to see if you could give me ideas of childcare careers that I don't know about yet that might be an option.

I'm hoping to start the OU's Childhood and Youth Studies degree this year (as long as they allow me to do it whilst working abroad) and love working with children and young people of all ages. I get bored working with one age group primarily for a period of time and like the differing age groups and the diversity of activities between 0-25 year olds.

I've heard that there is a course coming later this year that would suit all childcarers so I'd look into doing that asap too.

Things I have considered are nannying, which I know I'll need NVQs for so that'll take a while, working one-to-one with SN children in their own homes (ABA tutor I think they're called? Only heard of it recently!), working with Home Educated children and teens somehow (offering 'nannying' or activities), working in the outdoors sector as an activities instructor (which will take a while to gain qualies for, but I'm working on that anyways ), etc.

I do plan to HE my own kids when I have them (good few years now ) so I was thinking that maybe I should head in that direction, but I also plan to work part time when I've settled with kids and everything so I'd like something I can go back to part time iyswim?

So shoot me some ideas please, it's very much appreciated!

Yes, the OU will let you whilst working abroad. Voice of bitter experience says to pick courses with eTMA submission.

If you have a degree you're in a good position for governess type jobs, but they often require live-in, overseas and long hours, but IIRC you have a DP who wouldn't be too thrilled! The vast majority of children who are HEd are HEd by their parents but if you had a specific niche skill then I assmue you could offer that. That might require a more specific degree than Chilhood and Youth though.

What about diversifying into Youth Work? Residential childcare? Police work (youth offending team)? Learning mentor? Social work? Case manager? TEFL? Hospital playworker? Community education officer (young people)?

Once you have your degree go for EYPS?

Most jobs require additional occupational training on top of a degree but a degree will get your foot in the door. For SN work contact SNAP and ask them what courses to do.

I thought that they did, I just don't want to be charged extra for doing so but my course starts in october this year and I'll be abroad by then (but for a British company and my address will technically still be a UK based one) so wasn't sure how it'd work, am clling them in a mo to find out.

I'm not particularily interested in the Governess type jobs, I'd like somethingt o make a career out of back here and that I can do once settled down iyswim? And yes I do have a DP who wouldn't be particularily impressed either

I am thinking of what skill I could offer HE parents, I know that when I have kids myself I'd happily run study groups or an interest group for HE children but obviously that wouldn't be a paid service so I'd need to find something to offer that I could be paid to do on top of that.

I like the idea of Youth Work but again, I'm not sure where I'd like to specialise. I know that I love working with children and young people in settings less formal than schools so I'm trying to work out what those other settings may be and whether I'm suited for them. I'd love to get into running a D of E group or something but that'll require a degree very soon so I'd definately need to get cracking on that if I were to go down that route.

Residential Childcare is something that appeals and doesn't at the same time, I dislike the amount of restrictions on care workers in these places, especially in regards to not being able to discipline the children in any way, shape or form. It seems counter productive to me, young people being able to misbehave drastically knowing that whatever they do they'll still get taken to the cinema or something later because the staff are powerless to stop it. But I know that in the right care home it would be fantastic. I feel the same about working with young mothers, something I'd love to do but if you don't have the right 'clients' then it'd be hell. Same with Social Work and the Youth Offending Team from what I seem to hear (not sure I'd like to work with the YOT in this area though!).

I like the idea of a Hospital Playworker, do you know what qualies are needed for that?

What are: learning mentors; case managers and community education officers?

I really do want to do something that's diverse with the age groups and that allows me to work with kids progressively, allow them to grow and expand their horizons and for me to be a part in that.

Thank you I'm going to write these all on my rapidly expanding list for research

You need to register as a British citizen temporarily abroad, use your UK address and have someone forward the stuff over to you. Use a family member or someone reliable! In extreme cases (late registration) they'll send it to you using your overseas address but that's very rare and you have to grovel pretty hard.

Playworker - the usual route is a level 3 in childcare, professional experience and a level 4 in specialist work with sick children and young people but usually if you have a higher qualification the qualification/experience requirements are flexible. Not so much with the growing/expanding horizons - very focused and often short-term.

learning mentor

community education officer

A case manager is often attached to the youth justice team and is a mix between a social worker, youth offending team worker and a straightforward youth worker - basically working with at risk youths on an individual case basis to stop them getting into more trouble.

Yes, governessing = deeply incompatible with settling down!

I didn't know but apparently a family friend does something very much like ABA tutoring. She says that it's extremely hard but equally rewarding, which seems brilliant for me Does it tend to focus on younger children or can you work with all age groups doing it? There really isn't much info on what it actually entails when googled.

Thanks for the links and advice on the OU I'd also need the student loans to start which is another thing that I need to organise. I've already got some student loans so I'm hoping that doesn't interfere with applying again. I may actually get applying in the next couple of weeks , otherwise I'll never do it (much like I never called the OU today -_-)

This thread is very very helpful, thank you very much! I like brainstorming, it gives me an idea of where I want to be in 3/4 years time and whether it's possible.

Contact the OU first for financial support. They may have bursaries or fee waivers that wouldn't need to go through the student loans company.

Oo, I'll do that