Name: Andy Wallman
Age: 44
Current role: Base room manager in a nursery
Qualifications: NVQ 3.
EXPERIENCE
In 2003 I decided I wanted a complete change of career direction after having worked in a variety of jobs, including as a postman and DJ, and the idea of working with children appealed to me. My first role in the sector was with the Family Welfare Association as a pre-school assistant, where I was also working in an out-of-school club. After working across four pre-schools within my local area, I became a supervisor and expanded my responsibilities. Meanwhile I persevered with my studies for an NVQ.
Experience of different settings, which has included working with children with behavioural difficulties and in a multi-cultural context, has given me a lot of confidence. Now I'm working in a nursery and feel sure that my decision to move into this area was the right one.
WHAT I DO
My typical day starts at 7.30am, when I arrive and make sure my main room is ready to receive the children. This involves making health and safety checks and feeding pets. We have a separate room where children sit together to eat their snacks, and these have to be organised. I set up the day's activities, organise the register and make sure we are well prepared for the day's intake of babies and children, who range from six months to four-and-a-half years.
I've recently acquired a new role in the baby room and I am learning new skills there. This involves dealing with the babies' routines, developing interaction with them, organising their sleep times and communicating with parents.
I have also found it very rewarding being involved in the Sure Start Communicating Matters programme, where practitioners are focused on developing children's communication skills.
I really enjoy being with the children. Whatever age group I am involved with, the most important thing is to ensure they are settled and have fun. Everything else follows from that.
AMBITION
I am open-minded about how my career develops and would like to continue to develop my qualifications and experience.
OPTIONS
Tina Jeffries, director of the Red Space Company - (www.redspacecompany.com)
Andy has made an interesting decision to change his career path, and the early years sector actively welcomes more male practitioners. Children are given the opportunity of male role models and the workforce itself benefits from a fully representative blend of adults to provide the best experiences for children.
Now that Andy has spent some years building on his experience, there are a number of options available to him. He may consider a new role in another setting, doing more training or progressing to a more managerial position.
- Playwork leader
Andy says he particularly likes working directly with the children, so a job that allows him to continue this direct contact may be attractive to him. A playwork leader can be employed in a range of settings, including holiday play schemes, after- and before-school clubs, although they can often be school-term restricted.
This post would require Andy to use the experience he has of planning and setting up a range of activities for children who may be aged from four to 11 years old. He would be responsible for a team of playworkers and could work in a setting that is directly associated with a school, or run by the local authority as out-of-school holiday provision. This is exciting work that requires large amounts of energy and creativity as well as careful planning and knowledge of regulatory guidance.
Salary range £7-£8.50 per hour
- Deputy nursery manager
This role may suit Andy if he is thinking of taking on additional responsibilities, but still wants to maintain some direct work with children. Responsibilities would include assisting the nursery manager with the effective day-to-day running of the nursery, staff management, dealing directly with parents and ensuring that the regulatory and safety issues of the setting are adhered to. It would be sensible for Andy to take further management qualifications while in this role that would stand him in good stead if he should choose to become a nursery manager ultimately.
Salary range £16,000-£26,000
- Registered childminder
Andy may be interested in starting up his own business. With a level three qualification in Children's Care, Learning and Development he would be qualified to set up his own childminding business, once he has made the necessary preparations to become registered with his local authority. There are courses and qualifications approved by the National Childminding Association that Andy could do to help him make the transition to running this kind of provision in a home-based setting. It is necessary for childminders, who work in a very close relationship with children, to build up trust with the parents, who will want to feel totally content with the type of provision on offer for their child.
Fees from £3.50 an hour per child.
