What is an Early Years Practitioner?

Early Years Practitioners are central to what we do here at Partou. Working on the front line as early years specialists, we’re proud of the amazing job our Early Years Practitioners do every day to nurture and support the babies and young children in their care.

What does an early years practitioner do?

An Early Years Practitioner works closely with babies, toddlers or pre-schoolers, looking after their day-to-day needs like changing and feeding, whilst organising age-appropriate activities to stimulate their physical, educational and emotional development. They might work in a local authority funded childcare setting, as a nanny or childminder, or within a nursery.

Roles and responsibilities of an early years practitioner

The roles and responsibilities of an early years practitioner are likely to include:

• Looking after children’s day-to-day physical needs, such as feeding, nappy changing, toilet learning and administering first aid
• Providing a range of fun and stimulating activities, from reading stories to messy play
• Developing close attachments and fostering trust in the children in your care
• Safeguarding children and reporting any concerns
• Monitoring children’s progress, keeping records and reporting back to parents

Different types of early years practitioners work with different age groups: babies’ needs are very different from those of a four-year-old getting ready to start school. Some practitioners specialise in working with children who have special needs.

How to become an early years practitioner and the growth opportunities available

Apprenticeship: The skills required to work as an early years practitioner or educator are broad, ranging from emotional intelligence and good communication to time management and report writing. If you think you tick all these boxes, there are several routes into this rewarding career. You could start work in a nursery as an apprentice to gain experience and training, or study after leaving school for a qualification as a Level 2 or Level 3 early years practitioner.

Level 2: You can study for a Level 2 childcare qualification in a further education setting such as a college. You may need GCSEs in English and maths before starting the course – check with your provider to find out the entry requirements. With your Level 2 qualification, you could work as a nursery or preschool assistant.

Level 3: Getting a Level 3 childcare certificate means you are qualified to take on more responsibilities in your role. You could become a room leader or supervisor.

Further career development: It doesn’t end there! There’s lots of potential for you to develop your career in childcare. It’s possible to study for a Level 4 Certificate in Early Years Practice or even get a degree that could qualify you as a Nursery Manager.

Job vacancies at Partou

Our nurseries are a friendly and supportive places to work. We’d love to see what you can bring! Check out our latest Early Years Practitioner roles based at our settings or contact us with your CV.