requirements for working in childcare??

muffinman11

Is a fetac level 5 course in childcare enough to get a job in this area?? Is there many places in this job sector at the moment

Straycat

hi there.

fetac level 5 is sufficent and you are considered qualified at that, but the market is fierce at the minute, i would def recomend doing the level 6 if you can. aside form the qualifications it is hugely important to have a bit of experience. with childcare you are generally expected to have hands on experience.

regarding the amount of places that come up, its fairly usual, but the quality of the canditate has jumped. lots of graduates with social/child care degrees applying for basic childcare assistant jobs (which mostly pay minimum wage or slightly above) depending on the employer candidates with level 5/6 with a good work experience will have the edge. (reason being they are afraid candidates with degrees will jump ship as soon as a better wage comes along)

childcare has a high staff turnover rate, but creches etc try to minimise this as it is disruptive for the children and parents, so often longitivity in your experience will count for a lot.

good luck