Work in childcare, play and early years

This is a free two day training course for anyone living in Wales who is interested in working in childcare.

The training covers the essentials needed to work in childcare including safe working practices and working in child centred ways.

Find out more, or register your interest with WeCare Wales.

The level 2 core qualifications are suitable for those over the age of 16 looking to work in childcare, play and early years roles as an assistant.

This means you would help care for children but would not supervise other staff working with you. Achieving the core qualification will give the core knowledge you need to work in childcare, play and early years.

You can study for this qualification at a further education college or school sixth form if they offer the course.

If you wish to care for children in an unsupervised or a supervisory role you must get a Level 3 qualification. This is practice-based and tests your skills, knowledge and ability to care for children working in a childcare setting.

You will learn about:

• Health, well-being, learning and development
• Professional practice
• Safeguarding children
• Health and safety
• Child development
• Speech, language and communication
• Supporting children (nutrition and hydration)

With a Level 3 CCPLD, after two years’ experience of working in a day care setting you could become a person in charge of a children’s day care setting.

From September 2022, you might also need to gain a Level 3 qualification in Playwork. This will depend on your role.

If you have got a Level 3 CCPLD or have one of the qualifications accepted on Social Care Wales’ list (Day care / creche deputy manager), you may wish to progress further.

A Level 4 qualification:

• Is a ‘stepping stone’ for those who want to progress to Level 5
• Is designed to help you develop the key knowledge and understanding needed for a leadership and management role in Children’s Care, Play and Early Years sector. You can complete this without being in a leadership role
• Covers leading child-centred practice, theoretical frameworks for leadership and management, understanding how to lead and manage effective team performance

The ReAct+ progamme aims to help individuals aged 20 or over, who have been impacted by redundancy, gain the skills sought by recruiting employers.

All applicants for ReAct+ grants must seek advice and guidance from one of Working Wales’ careers advisers. This advice and guidance will take into account the labour market.

The ReAct+ programme can provide a grant of up to £1,500 for vocational training and up to £200 to help with costs associated with training, for example travel expenses. Additional support for care and childcare costs to remove barriers to employment is also available.

Find out more about ReAct+.

There are apprenticeships available at levels 2,3,4 and 5.

Apprenticeship roles vary from day care or creche assistant practitioners and social care workers to managers and deputy managers of early years and social care settings.

Find out more about apprenticeships in Wales.

Hear from those who have completed an apprenticeship in care on the WeCare Wales website.

PACEY provides training to help develop knowledge, skills and self-confidence.

A range of training is available from pre-registration training for childminders, to safeguarding training for anyone working with children.

Find out more about training from PACEY.