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Original poster

Can I earn a comfortable wage in childcare? How do I progress?

26 replies

Leapoffaith00 · 22/06/2019 07:59

I have recently qualified as a mental health nurse and do not want to peruse with it. In my second year I wanted to leave and went for an interview in a nursery and had a trial day, loved it and got the job however felt I should complete my degree. It's complete but now I'm banking in nurseries as I need to sit back and think where I'm going. Love it! However feel a bit like just an extra body. I'm not qualified within the role so can't key work. I'm in different nurseries so never feel part of the team. I don't want to go into nursing but the money I'm on now banking is minimum wage.
Please tell me there are opportunities within childcare, where I can progress. I don't want to study anymore after 5 years of hard work (don't mind learning on the job) and I am now 42. I need a comfortable income as a single parent also. I'm desperate to make a decision as financially struggling but desperately unhappy working in mental health.

OP posts:
Zebedee88 · 22/06/2019 08:03

Hmm I'm a nanny but my friend who work in nurseries and are qualified , never seem to ear that much. Usually for a permanent job they do look for atleast a level 2 in childcare, however I do know a mum who managed to get a job in a nursery.

NabooThatsWho · 22/06/2019 08:07

Working in a nursery will be long hours and minimum wage.
Nannying can be better money but can be harder finding hours that suit if you have children of your own.
You can do childminding without a childcare qualification, is that something you might be interested in?

Original poster
Leapoffaith00 · 22/06/2019 08:08

Zebedee88 thankyou. Yes, nurseries take on unqualified (as I am in this position) but its more like an extra body position. I would like more of a role. I just can't afford minimum wage. I much prefer working with little people. Working in mental health was impacting on my own.

OP posts:
Original poster
Leapoffaith00 · 22/06/2019 08:10

NabooThatsWho thankyou - I was considering childminding. Not sure what income that would be. Also, I love my house but its not very equipped for children. Its small and needs things doing to it. Just can't afford it just having one income coming in. Would definitely like that otherwise.

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QueenOfCatan · 22/06/2019 08:10

Frankly, not really. Not in nurseries anyway. A friend of mine has a degree in early years and was a room leader on £18k. Childminding may get you more but it's relentless and it's your own home which adds other complications. The only minders I know earning well have lots of over 8s on their books, to the extent that I'm astounded that ofsted don't put a limit on it tbh. Nannying is usually more but not so much unless you work long hours. I've done all three and they all have their pros and cons, but it's definitely a field you work in for the love of it rather than the money!
Can you use your degree to specialise in something with children?

QuickQuestion2019 · 22/06/2019 08:13

You need to be a nanny with own child e.g accept a slightly reduced salary and be allowed to take your child to work. You can earn around 30k doing this full time

Figure8 · 22/06/2019 08:14

CAHMS type work in a primary school?

QueenOfCatan · 22/06/2019 08:14

Just seen your last post, i would reconsider minding in a small home, I have a two up two down it is manageable but ofsted will limit how many children you can have which affects income and you have to be properly on top of the cleaning and tidying in a small home as it gets dirty very quickly!

Itsjeremycorbynsfault · 22/06/2019 08:15

Could you do further training and work in children's mental health?

Original poster
Leapoffaith00 · 22/06/2019 08:18

QueenOfCatan - that's what I'm slowly fining out. I just can't afford it. However it makes me happy. Working in mental health (for me) was hard. I'm not sure what jobs there are out there that I can use my degree. I looked into assessing but you have to have 2 years nursing experience. I'm not even getting to interview stage when applying for nvq assessing and that was for trainee assessor. I don't want to work in childrens mental health, its upsetting. I enquired about assessing children for autism but apparently that's a psychological degree. I want a happy job!

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Original poster
Leapoffaith00 · 22/06/2019 08:21

Camhs in schools would be a nice job - however there are no posts for it. I see them London way. I'm South Wales. Not seen one post during my whole training.

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Mumof1andacat · 22/06/2019 08:35

Play specialist in a hospital is a position to consider

Original poster
Leapoffaith00 · 22/06/2019 08:45

Mumof1andacat just googled. I hadn't even heard of this position. I so wished I'd know years ago. Completely went into the wrong degree route. It's asking for 2 years experience working with children and a qualification in early years - more psychological/social work degree. There is also a qualification you need to go into it. Looks like a nice job though.

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turtlelizards · 22/06/2019 09:02

How about a paediatric speech and language therapy assistant, or occupational therapy assistant. Both would work with kids who have (or suspected to have) autism.

BonnieBelleStarr · 22/06/2019 09:11

Nurseries usually offer minimum wage and are often staffed with girls out of school on their first job or training. When I worked in nurseries Itwas full of complaints from staff about low wages, annoying parents and employers who docked their wages as it subsided their own kids attendance at the setting
Childminding has a lot of restrictions because you can only have so many kids, regular inspections, you sort your own taxes and have to arrange liability insurance etc

IQuit3 · 29/06/2019 11:13

Teaching assistants in SEN schools pay a bit more than private nurseries but it's still not great money due to the school holidays. I suppose you could do nursery bank in the school holidays to bump the pay up a bit?

IQuit3 · 29/06/2019 11:14

Also workers in respite and other children's homes run by the council pay quite a bit more than minimum wage and your nursing qualification would help in getting a job like that.

gatsby2019 · 29/06/2019 11:17

I know you said you didn't want more studying, but would you consider HV training, it's one year and salaried, a mental health background is helpful.

Original poster
Leapoffaith00 · 01/07/2019 11:16

Thank you all so much - really helpful messages. Still searching. I joined an agency and there ate lots of shifts in children's homes. I was asked more or less straight away did I want to cover some nights shifts as a foster home placement had fallen down and it was emergency care in a cottage. I would be awake whilst a young boy of 15 slept. I was basically there to make sure he didn't run away - I was then told, he probably will try and I'm there to call the police - basic procedures. Of course im there to keep him safe but I feel like the jobs that my mental health nurse training has given me is more of a role of continuous safeguarding and risk assessing. I was basically going into a new job role, new environment blind! I love being in a position to care and make a difference, it's why I did my nurse training and of course I understand my role is to safeguard however, I am tired!! I am a single parent and juggling life as a parent is hard, especially alone. Therefore, feel reluctant to take on such challenging positions.
At the moment as I recieve added tax credits (universal credit) and maintenance, I'm able to push through financially but once my dd's are of an age - I could never live on that wage. Unless I want to take on these challenging roles of course.
I enjoyed working with the OT's but again assistants are on less money aren't they?
I'm still searching day and night for something.

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Original poster
Leapoffaith00 · 01/07/2019 11:17

Ps - I'm not sure I have the strength to study again. It was so hard!

OP posts:
MNHQ
LornaMMumsnet · 01/07/2019 12:13

Hello OP!

Just thought I'd let you know that over on Mumsnet Jobs, we currently have a role as a home-based childminder that you might be interested in. You don't need any experience or training, as the company provides everything you need to run your own business from home.

You can find out more here.

Whether it's this opportunity or something else, I hope you find what you're looking for!

Original poster
Leapoffaith00 · 01/07/2019 14:19

LornaMMumsnet - thankyou so much. I have looked into this but I don't think my home is big enough. I don't have money to make the relevant safety changes either. If my home was bogger, I would love to do this. Thankyou for your help.

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DarkDarkNight · 01/07/2019 23:54

It’s notoriously badly paid. All of the people I know who work in Childcare have the luxury of a relatively high earning partner. I’m a single mother myself and couldn’t pay my bills on the wage.

Parentnoobi · 26/07/2019 20:43

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nigelleeaverage · 06/08/2019 08:56

Have you thought about doing a PGCE in early years . You already have a degree and it's a one year course, also the money is so much better than working in nurseries.