EXPERIENCE
After leaving school I spent six years in the army. I learned carpentry as a trade and spent four years as a Commando, serving all over the world including Iraq, Belize and Norway. I left the army to study for a degree and pursue a career in teaching, which I did for three years.
When my wife got a job in New York we relocated and I worked as a security officer for the United Nations. By the time we came back to the UK three years later, we had two young sons and I decided that I would like to be a stay at home Dad. The idea to become a childminder was born along with my daughter, Liberty, who is now two years old.
WHAT I DO
I currently take care of three children who are around 18 months old. It has worked out very well for my daughter, who now has friends to play with while my sons are at school. I look after the children at various times between 8am and 4pm. There are a couple of playgroups we go to. One is just for childminders and is particularly good. We also go to storytime sessions at the library, and with my background in physical education I also encourage the children to enjoy games outdoors, particularly those involving ball skills. I feel I am very fortunate to spend so much quality time with my own children and the other children I mind. Playing an important part in their learning and development is very rewarding and it is fantastic to see their language and communication skills developing so quickly.
AMBITION
We are considering moving to New Zealand, where I would also work as a childminder. My son's teacher has a daughter who lives in Wellington and has been giving me advice and guidance.
OPTIONS
While Neil has not had the most traditional journey to his current work with children, his story demonstrates perfectly how personal interests and talents, diverse experiences and appropriate training can blend together to develop new career opportunities. A number of key factors stemming from his previous work will feature heavily when considering his next moves - his passion for outdoor exercise and education, his disciplined approach to skill development and training, and his pro-active role as a father in the care and development of his own and other people's children. These should enable him, as a minority male in the workforce, to demonstrate personal strengths and talents that are valuable to the workforce, and most importantly, benefit the children he works with.
As a result he should be in a strong position to consider other options. These may include diversifying his current role, helping others in the workforce to learn from his knowledge and experiences, or making a lifestyle choice to work as a professional overseas, in view of his ambition to emigrate to New Zealand.
Advisory teacher in outdoor education
Neil has a specialism in physical and outdoor education gained from first-hand, personally challenging situations, and has endorsed this with his degree. This could put him in a good position to work as an advisory teacher, either through outdoor learning institutions or local authorities, helping practitioners to understand how the all-round development of young children can be enhanced through activity involving exercise and outdoor experiences. As an advisor he would work with partners and settings to develop strategies to increase opportunities for children to take part and develop their confidence in these areas.
- Salary scale £35,500-£41,000 (local variations)
Nursery business proprietor
Neil could extend the childminding provision he currently runs by setting up a full day care nursery. He would have to apply for the necessary venue planning and registration permissions. He could employ more qualified staff and train them in his particular style of care and education, which could be the nursery's unique point in attracting 'customers'. Because of Neil's unusual previous work, and his recognition of the benefits of outdoor and physical education, he might find parents welcoming the kind of approach to the provision he could offer.
- Salary scale: Varies according to turnover
Early Childhood Education abroad
Neil's combined teaching and homecare qualifications and wider work experience will be strengths when applying for work in New Zealand, where early childhood provision is delivered by both teachers and homecare networks. However, transferability of professional qualifications to work overseas can be an issue, so it's well worth checking how they relate in New Zealand. Neil can assess his qualifications against the New Zealand National Qualifications Framework by logging on to www.nzqa.govt.nz
- Salary scale $30,000 - $54,000
Tina Jefferies, The Red Space Company
www.redspacecompany.com, e-mail info@redspacecompany.com
Name: Neil Sinclair
Age: 38
Current role: Childminder
Qualifications: BA QTS in Physical Education; CACHE Diploma in Home-based Childcare.
