The ‘A job and a joy’ campaign aims to attract people who are considering career changes to move into childcare by emphasising how rewarding, enjoyable and meaningful working in the sector can be.
It forms part of measures by the Scottish Government to expand the workforce ahead of the move to almost double funded childcare for three- and four-year-olds to 1,400 hours from 2020. As part of this, almost 2,000 more training places at college and university are being created this year alone. The Scottish Government is also supporting an increase in the number of modern apprenticeships.
Under the ‘A job and a joy’ recruitment campaign, a TV advert has been created, along with a website. The website features information about training, funding and qualifications.
Launching the campaign at Country Bumpkins Nursery in Inverness-shire, minister for childcare and early years Maree Todd (pictured below) said, ‘We know that when people consider changing career they want to achieve a good work life balance and do rewarding and meaningful work. A career in childcare does exactly that.
‘Our expansion of funded nursery education and childcare will create thousands of high-quality and well-paid jobs across Scotland. Working with children is rewarding, enjoyable and meaningful, and this is the focus of our ‘A job and a joy’ campaign. I urge those thinking of changing jobs to seriously consider a career in childcare.’
Nicola Johnstone, nursery practitioner at Country Bumpkins Nursery, said, ‘I recently changed my job from being a hairdresser to working in a nursery and I absolutely love it. It’s such a rewarding role. Seeing children’s happy faces makes you feel happy and there’s a real sense of achievement. I enjoy being part of a team and there’s lots of creativity, no two days are the same.’
The nursery’s manager Nicola Bartlett, added, ‘We have a number of people who have changed careers and moved into childcare here at the nursery. I think the fact that it’s a fun and varied job makes it attractive, and that you’re really making a difference to the children’s lives so it’s also very rewarding.
'At our nursery we like to spend lots of time outdoors and on the nearby beach. We’re currently developing an outdoor classroom too, so children can choose to spend the day inside or outside.’
- For more information visit https://childcarecareersscotland.scot/
- For the advert on YouTube click here
