How to become an early education and childcare assistant
Official title: Early education and childcare assistants
Also called: Care assistant, Childcare nurse, Creche assistant, General assistant, Nursery assistant, Early years worker, Playgroup assistant, Child care assistant, Playschool assistant, Pre-school assistant, Play school assistant, Early years assistant
Early education and childcare assistants assist in the care of children from birth up to seven years of age in day or residential nurseries, children’s homes, maternity units and similar establishments.
Main tasks
- May work under the supervision of more experienced practitioners
- Baths, dresses, prepares feed for and feeds babies, changes babies clothing whenever necessary
- Supervises young children at mealtimes
- Plans and organises games and other activities and supervises children’s play
- Reads stories, organises counting games to help develop language and number skills
- Communicates with parents and colleagues on children’s development and well-being
How to become one
Entry is most common with GCSEs/S grades followed by the award of a certificate from the Council for Awards in Children’s Care and Education. An NVQ/SVQ in Child Care and Education or equivalent qualification up to level 3 may be required to work in this role. A DBS check is mandatory.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £24,742 a year The middle half earn £20,341 to £27,945.
- About 161,600 people work in this job now, and about 177,200 are projected by 2035. (+9.6%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become an early education and childcare assistant?
Entry is most common with GCSEs/S grades followed by the award of a certificate from the Council for Awards in Children’s Care and Education. An NVQ/SVQ in Child Care and Education or equivalent qualification up to level 3 may be required to work in this role. A DBS check is mandatory.
How much does an early education and childcare assistant earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £24,742 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £20,341 to £27,945.
Is an early education and childcare assistant a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2035, from about 161,600 to about 177,200 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become an early education and childcare assistant?
Usually not. Only 15% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03