Advice needed – Early years background, now NHS admin, feeling stuck… what next?

[Sloneranger97]

Hi all,
Looking for a bit of advice or insight from anyone who’s been in a similar boat.

Before the pandemic, I worked with children and have a Level 3 early years qualification. I loved being in that environment, but after lockdown I ended up switching paths and moved into the NHS. I’ve been there ever since and have worked my way up to a senior admin role.

The thing is, for the past year or so, I’ve felt quite unfulfilled. I miss the sense of purpose I had when working with children, and I’m starting to feel that pull back into the education sector. I just can’t seem to figure out in what capacity.

Part of me is thinking about going back to uni to do an early years teaching degree or EYTS. But I also wonder if something like higher-level admin or support roles in a school or nursery setting would be a better fit—something that blends my current skills with my passion for education.

Has anyone gone from NHS/admin into education? Or returned to working with children after time away? I’d really appreciate hearing about others’ experiences or any advice on what might be worth considering.

Thanks in advance!

Well, there are plenty of jobs working directly with children in the early years!

School or nursery admin roles are fewer in number and I think that people tend to stay put for a long time. Note that salaries might be lower than you expect as they might not be a full-year contract. I think the best thing to do is to begin looking and apply?