Careers: Where do I go from here?

Experience

I've always enjoyed looking after children. I spent a lot of time with my young cousins, playing games and doing activities with them and found this very rewarding. While I was still at school I did some work experience in a local nursery, and this helped me to decide what I wanted to do. I was very pleased to be taken on by my current nursery straight from school, and to have the opportunity to gain my NVQ2. I found that it was useful to study while working, as I could directly apply what I was learning. It never really occurred to me that this was an unusual occupation for a man - I remember there were three male practitioners in the nursery I attended when I was small. I also received a lot of encouragement from family and friends to go into the sector.

What I do

I assist my supervisor and room leaders in the daily routine and activities of the nursery. At the moment we are doing a lot of activities around Christmas and creating displays. Most of the work is the children's - they decide what they want to do and how they want to do it. For many of the younger children it is the first time they have really understood about Santa Claus, and it's great seeing how excited they get. There is a big emphasis on discussion about Christmas and other subjects throughout the day, whether it is at circle time or more informally.

What I enjoy most is the outdoor time of the day. I take the children outside and lead physical activity sessions that involve dancing, stretching, running games, tennis and football. This is really right up my street. I enjoy being with the children when they can be very loud and very active.

I enjoy working with my supervisor and two room leaders. They have been incredibly supportive of me and were very helpful when I was studying for my NVQ. I really look up to them.

Ambition

My priority is to gain more qualifications and take the next step up the ladder, which would be room leader. I'm sure my ambitions will change as I get older, but right now I want to learn as much about the business as I can.

Name: David Wills
Age: 18
Current role: Nursery assistant in a 40-place day nursery
Qualifications: NVQ2 in Children's Care, Learning and Development

Options

Tina Jefferies

The workforce needs young people who have spent time considering their own personal qualities, skills and knowledge which, when built upon wider experience, develops into a rewarding and progressive career. As David is at the very beginning of his career, he could choose a raft of different options.

Play worker

David has said he particularly enjoys being involved with the children's active times and outside play. As a playworker he could work with children in out-of-school clubs or holiday play provision. There is great scope in this role to provide children with quality play experiences that are fun, engaging, active and purposeful. Staff need to have plenty of energy, to be creative and imaginative, and work with initiative. Often the jobs are part-time and either term-time or holiday-time only, but many people make up a full employment by working in a range of different settings.

- Salary range: £6 - £8 per hour

Children's representative

If David enjoys travelling he may like to consider working for one of the many travel companies that employ children's representatives. While still young and without too many personal ties, this can be a fun way of working. The role requires a high level of energy, enthusiasm and lots of good ideas. Looking after and entertaining children on holiday means working with a mixed age range. It is a good way of gaining experience of working with many different people, in a variety of locations and gaining understanding of how to provide a range of positive activities. A minimum level 2 qualification in Children's Care, Learning and Development, good interpersonal skills and experience of working with groups of children are essential requirements for the job.

- Salary range: varies according to company and geographical location, but travel and accommodation costs are paid

Early years educator

David may want to continue his studies with a level 3 qualification, such as an NVQ or Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development. This would enable him to consider a room supervisor's role within his nursery. Or, with a few more years of experience under his belt, he may consider an early years educator's role in a nursery school or children's centre. This type of role requires a commitment to helping children achieve high standards of development within a structured learning environment, in the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.

Work in out-of-school settings, as well as in the nursery, would give David experience in an excellent variety of children's learning contexts. These would enable him to continue building a progressive career that intersperses training with practice and professional development.

- Salary range: £19,000 - 25,000

- Tina Jefferies, director of the Red Space Company, www.redspacecompany.com.