2.3 Outline employment options

This guide will help you answer 2.3 Outline employment options.

This guide will help you understand the different work opportunities available within the children and young people’s workforce in England. It covers the range of roles you can consider, which settings they are based in, and what skills or qualifications might be needed. Knowing the options will help you plan your career and make choices that suit your interests and abilities.

The children and young people’s workforce includes jobs working directly with children or young people, supporting families, and delivering services in education, health, play, safeguarding or social care. Work can be full-time, part-time, self-employed or through volunteering.

Roles in Early Years Settings

Early years jobs focus on children from birth to age five. These settings follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework, which sets out how childcare and education should be delivered.

Common roles include:

Nursery assistant or practitioner – works directly with children, supporting learning and care
Room leader – supervises a specific age group within a nursery
Nursery manager – oversees the whole nursery and manages staff
Childminder – self-employed, caring for children in their own home

Skills may involve communication, planning activities, meeting safeguarding responsibilities, and building partnerships with parents. Early years work can be in private nurseries, local authority settings, children’s centres, or alongside childminder networks.

Roles in Schools

Schools offer varied roles for those interested in education and support for children aged 5 to 18.

Positions include:

Teaching assistant – supports the class teacher and small groups of pupils
Higher level teaching assistant (HLTA) – has more responsibility, may lead lessons under direction
Special educational needs (SEN) support assistant – works with children who have specific learning or medical needs
Cover supervisor – manages the classroom when regular teachers are absent

School work might be in primary, secondary, faith schools, academies or specialist settings. Opportunities for part-time or term-time contracts are common, which can suit workers looking for flexible work patterns.

Roles in Playwork

Playwork focuses on providing safe and stimulating play for children, mainly outside of school hours. These roles suit people who enjoy active, creative and informal methods of supporting children’s development.

Jobs include:

Playworker – works at after-school clubs, holiday schemes, or adventure playgrounds
Play leader – takes responsibility for planning activities and supervising staff
Play development worker – coordinates play projects within the community

Playwork requires creativity, energy and the ability to encourage positive behaviour through play.

Roles in Youth Work

Youth work usually involves supporting young people aged 11 to 25 to learn new skills, make positive choices, and take part in community life.

Common roles are:

Youth support worker – delivers group activities, mentoring and advice
Youth worker – plans programmes, manages a youth centre or joins outreach teams
Outreach youth worker – works in communities to engage young people in informal learning

Youth work often includes evening and weekend hours. Contracts may be with local authorities, charities, or voluntary organisations.

Roles in Residential Care

Residential care involves looking after children or young people who live away from their families. This may be in a children’s home, secure unit, or specialist residential school.

Roles include:

Residential care worker – provides day-to-day care, supports education and emotional well-being
Senior residential worker – supervises staff and shifts
Registered manager – responsible for the running of the home and compliance with regulations

This work requires patience, resilience and a strong knowledge of safeguarding and legal duties.

Health and Social Care Roles Linked to Children and Young People

Some employment options combine health and care support for children, including those with disabilities or complex medical needs.

Examples are:

Paediatric healthcare assistant – supports nurses and doctors in a hospital, clinic or home setting
Family support worker – works with families to help them access services and improve outcomes
Children’s social worker – protects and supports children at risk of harm

These jobs may be with the NHS, local councils, or charities. Professional registration might be required for certain roles such as social work.

Self-Employment Opportunities

Some childcare roles allow for self-employment. This offers flexibility in working pattern but involves responsibility for running a business.

Examples:

Childminding – offering care in your own home
Nannying – providing care in a family’s home
Private tutor – supporting children’s learning in specific subjects

Self-employment requires business skills such as marketing, managing accounts, and meeting insurance and legal requirements.

Voluntary Work

Volunteering can be a way to gain experience before applying for paid roles. It can also be rewarding for those who wish to contribute to their community.

Opportunities include:

Helping at youth clubs
Supporting school trips
Assisting at community events for children and families

Voluntary work can develop communication skills, build confidence and provide references for job applications.

Apprenticeships and Traineeships

Apprenticeships allow you to earn a wage while training in a real workplace. They combine on-the-job experience with structured learning.

Traineeships are shorter and focus on preparing you for work or further training. Both can be entry routes into childcare, youth work or support roles in education.

Completing an apprenticeship in a relevant area can lead to permanent employment or higher-level qualifications.

Agency and Supply Work

Agency roles can give variety and experience in multiple settings. For example, a supply teaching assistant may work in different schools each week.

Agencies often provide short-term work to cover absence or extra demand. This can be useful for workers who prefer flexible schedules.

Specialist Support Roles

Some workers choose to focus on specific areas such as:

Language support assistant – helps children learning English as an additional language
Behaviour mentor – supports pupils to manage emotions and improve social skills
Learning mentor – helps pupils overcome barriers to learning, such as low confidence or poor attendance

Specialist roles may require additional training or experience.

Work with Charities and Community Projects

Charities and voluntary organisations often create services for children and young people.

These may include:

Counselling and emotional support projects
Sports and arts programmes
Outreach for at-risk groups

Roles can be varied and sometimes combine several skills, such as mentoring, advocacy and activity planning.

Management and Leadership Roles

With experience, workers can progress into leadership roles.

Examples include:

Nursery manager
Team leader in a youth project
Service coordinator for a family support service

These positions involve managing staff, budgets and service delivery. Leadership roles require good organisation, decision-making skills and the ability to motivate others.

Factors to Think About When Choosing Employment Options

Choosing where to work can depend on:

Your interests and strengths
Hours of work and flexibility needed
Location and travel
Pay and career progression
Level of responsibility you want

Training and development opportunities might also influence your choice.

Training and Qualifications for Different Roles

Each role has its own qualification needs. For example:

Nursery practitioners often need a Level 3 early years qualification
Teaching assistants may start at Level 2 and progress to Level 3 or HLTA status
Youth workers often have qualifications in youth work or community work
Social workers must hold a recognised social work degree and be registered

Continuous professional development (CPD) is important for keeping skills and knowledge current.

Employment Sectors

The children and young people’s workforce can be found in different sectors:

Public sector – local councils, schools, NHS
Private sector – private nurseries, independent schools, agencies
Voluntary sector – charities, non-profit organisations

Each sector can offer different benefits, working cultures and opportunities for progression.

Moving Between Roles

Skills gained in one area can often transfer to others. For instance, communication and planning skills from early years work can be valuable in youth work or playwork.

Some workers may move between roles to broaden experience or change focus as their interests develop.

Final Thoughts

The children and young people’s workforce in England offers a wide range of employment options, from hands-on care in early years to strategic leadership in services for families. There are roles in education, health, community work, play, care and support. Each has its own demands, rewards and training paths.

Thinking about your personal strengths, interests and preferred working conditions will help you identify roles that suit you best. Gaining experience through volunteering, agency work or short-term contracts can also give you insight into different settings before making a long-term commitment.