Childcare recruitment underway

Career changers are being targeted in a new campaign to recruit more childcare staff.

Families across Scotland are set to benefit from an almost doubling of funded early years and childcare provision by 2020.

To expand the workforce, the Scottish Government is creating almost 2,000 more training places at university and college this year alone, and supporting a substantial increase in the number of modern apprenticeships.

The ‘A Job and A Joy’ campaign emphasises the rewarding, enjoyable and meaningful nature of a job in childcare.

Childcare Minister Maree Todd said: “We know that when people consider changing career they want to achieve a good work life balance and do rewarding and meaningful work. A career in childcare does exactly that.

“Our expansion of funded nursery education and childcare will create thousands of high quality and well-paid jobs across Scotland. Working with children is rewarding, enjoyable and meaningful, and this is the focus of our ‘A Job and A Joy’ campaign. I urge those thinking of changing jobs to seriously consider a career in childcare.”

Nicola Johnstone, nursery practitioner at Country Bumpkins Nursery in Inverness-shire said: “I recently changed my job from being a hairdresser to working in a nursery and I absolutely love it.

“It’s such a rewarding role. Seeing children’s happy faces makes you feel happy and there’s a real sense of achievement.  I enjoy being part of a team and there’s lots of creativity, no two days are the same.”

Country Bumpkins Nursery manager, Nicola Bartlett, commented: “We have a number of people who have changed careers and moved into Childcare here at the nursery.  I think the fact that it’s a fun and varied job makes it attractive, and that you’re really making a difference to the children’s lives so it’s also very rewarding. 

“At our nursery we like to spend lots of time outdoors and on the nearby beach.  We’re currently developing an outdoor classroom too, so children can choose to spend the day inside or outside.”