Questions most frequently asked by students and people thinking of coming back into the sector, and their answers:

What is an NTO, and how many of them are there?
NTOs are organisations that represent employers and employment interests of different sectors. There are about 70 of them and they undertake research and provide advice and guidance to Government about their sector, and from Government to the sector.

Why did the Government set up NTOs?
To improve the level of skills and qualifications in the workforce.

Which NTOs are active in the Early Years and Playwork sectors?
Primarily the Early Years NTO and the Playwork Unit of SPRITO - the NTO for Sport, Recreation and Allied Occupations. These NTOs also work closely with TOPSS - The NTO for Personal Social Services, the Local Government NTO, the Voluntary sector NTO and the Healthcare NTO.

That sounds like a lot - do these NTOs overlap?
Yes. In fact, these NTOs have recently agreed to form an NTO Group so that they might meet regularly to consider issues that impact on the work that they do.

So, how do I know which NTO to contact for advice?
That depends on the area that you are working in or interested in working in. If you work with children between the ages of 0 - eight you should make contact with the Early Years NTO in the first instance. If you are a playworker, your first port of call should be SPRITO.

I know that I want to work with young children but I would like to know what sort of jobs I can do in childcare. Do you have a list?
You will find a list of job roles in the Qualifications and Training Framework that can be found on the Qualification and Curriculum Authority's website.

Why do I need to have qualifications to work with children?
People often think that anyone who is a parent can look after children, and that may be true of their own children but people working in the early years sector are required to look after other people’s children. Working with babies and children under eight requires training and skills. Early Years is a demanding profession, and if we are to deliver the best level of care that our children deserve, we need trained, qualified professionals to do this.

What organisations exist to help me find out more/work in the above?
These are examples of some of the professional organisations that can help you. You should also make contact with your careers service and local college or training provider.

The National Childminding Association [NCMA]
Professional Association of Nursery Nurses [PANN]
UNISON
Teacher Training Agency [TTA]
Preschool Learning Alliance [PLA]
National Association of Day Nurseries [NDNA]
National Council for Play
Scottish Childminding Association [SCMA]
Northern Ireland Childminding Association [NICMA]
General Teaching Council
Scottish Independent Nurseries Association [SINA]
Montessori UK

I can't afford to go to college on a full time basis - are there ways in which I can qualify while I am working or get paid while I am qualifying?
Vocational qualifications exist for people who cannot undertake full-time training or who prefer to undertake training while working. Examples of vocational qualifications are the National Traineeship and Modern Apprenticeships in Early Years Care and Education and National and Scottish Vocational Qualifications. You may also find that distance learning packages provide a route to obtaining qualifications while you are working.

Are there any jobs available for men in childcare, or is childcare just for women?
There are lots of job opportunities for men in childcare, especially because children need both male and female carers and role models.

What are the Early Years Childcare and Development Partnerships [England and Wales] and Childcare Partnerships [Scotland] and what do they mean for me as someone entering the sector
The partnerships are local organisations that bring together all of the organisations in that area that are working in the field of childcare. Each partnership has to prepare an annual plan and in that they review issues about training and qualifications, and assess current and future employment needs.

What if I don't have formal qualifications but have years of experience in looking after children - does this count for anything?
Experience can be valuable, but on its own it is unlikely to get you a job. Employers nowadays are looking for qualified staff, so our best advice is to enrol for an NVQ and become qualified.

I qualified several years ago and would like work with children again- do I have to get qualified all over again, or will you take my 'old' qualifications into account?
That depends on how old your qualification is, particularly if you qualified before the Children Act. The Early Years NTO is undertaking some work at present on reviewing ‘old’ qualifications with a view to identifying their value against current qualifications.

Where should I look for jobs when I get qualified?
Magazines such as The Lady and Nursery World carry job advertisements, and you can also look in the Times Educational Supplement and your local newspaper.

Will employers/colleges take into account experience that I gained in looking after children when I was young, eg. a childcare badge at Girl Guides or experience of babysitting young children?
The Early Years Care and Education National Traineeship mentions such experience in its framework, but remember that this is experience and not a qualification.

If I do an Early Years Care and Education qualification can I move into 'related' areas, eg:
Health (nursing), Teaching, Social care, Charity Work, Playwork?
The Early Years NTO is currently working with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority [QCA] and with the equivalent organisations in Scotland [SQA] and Wales [ACCAC] to show pathways and progressions routes for early years workers, both in early years care and education and in related fields. Additional information on this will be posted on this web-site as it becomes available.

What is the difference between job titles/job roles?
Job roles are what people do. Job titles are just that - a label given to a job that very often does not describe the job or tell you what that person does. In the early years sector we talk about job roles because they give a more accurate description of what the job involves.

I have heard that you are developing an orientation programme, what does this mean, how long will it take and how can I sign up to this?
The Early Years NTO and the Playwork Unit of SPRITO are working together to jointly develop an orientation programme for people wanting to find out more about working in the early years sector. The orientation programme will provide you with sufficient information to make an informed choice about working in the early years and playwork sectors. You will have the opportunity to meet with employers, workers and representatives of different types of care services, such as day nurseries, childminders, family centres, out of school and holiday clubs. We are planning to trial the orientation programme in October 1999, and it is likely that the finished programme will run for between 15 and 20 hours.

Will the orientation programme take the place of an induction programme?
No. The Early Years NTO is developing a Code of Practice for Training Providers that will include a framework for an induction to the sector, covering issues around child safety and development, learning and matters of health and safety. The Code will also include a framework for an induction in a work setting and the minimum standard that training should be delivered at.

Do I need to have O Levels/GCSEs to find work in Early Years Childcare and Education/Playwork?
Not necessarily. There are many different qualifications available to people wanting to work in the early years sector, and different requirements for entry. You careers service advisor should be able to provide guidance on the best route for you to follow.

I live in a rural area, miles away from a college - how can I effectively access training and what options are available to me?
A number of early years organisations have developed or are in the process of developing distance learning packages that can help people in rural areas access training. You could also try contacting the Open University on: 020 7278 4411 or the National Extension College on: 01223 450250 who both deal with distance learning courses.

I have noticed that a lot of qualifications have elements of First Aid and Food Hygiene in them - why is this? how do I find out about these?
Early years workers are encouraged to undertake first-aid training, and the National Childminding Association and other organisations have been working with the British Red Cross and St John’s Ambulance to develop paediatric first-aid training. Any worker who has a responsibility for providing food and snacks to children in their care should also be aware of current food hygiene regulations.

I really like working with/helping children but would like to work in a hospital working with children - what do I need to be able to do this?
The Qualification and Curriculum Authority is currently building a Qualifications and Training Framework that will show pathways and progression routes out of early years work and into related professions. The Diploma in Nursery Nursing [DNN] has also recently been recognised by the UKCC as providing a route into nursing.

Can I specialise in working with children of specific ages, for example, babies rather than toddlers and older? If so, should I be looking at a specific qualification?
Early Years Care and Education qualifications will enable you to work with babies and children between the ages of 0 – 8. Playwork qualifications will allow you to work with children from the ages of 5 – 15 and some care qualifications can take you beyond that age range.

Why is there such an emphasis in 'key skills' in qualifications, and why do I need to be literate and work with numbers?
Anybody working with children is likely to come across forms and paperwork that need to be completed, and having basic numerical and literate skills will help you to better undertake these tasks.

Why do I need to know about Information Technology when I am working with children?
Increasingly computers are part of our everyday life - after all, you are accessing a website to find out this information. There are also many tasks that computers can undertake that can benefit early years workers, such as plotting staff timetables and word processing letters to parents. Children are becoming more computer literate and expect the people caring for them to do the same.

I really want to work with children with special needs - what qualifications should I work towards in order to do this?
The National Occupational Standards in Early Years Care and Education at Level 3 include standards for working with children with special educational needs.

There seems to be a lot of 'jargon' used when I talk to people/employers/careers advisers in the Early Years sector - how do I find my way through this?
If you do not understand what someone is saying do not be afraid to ask - people who are familiar with the sector often assume that the people that they are talking to will also be familiar with it. You will also find that most of the organisations in the early years sector use abbreviations or acronyms for their names, which is why we have provided a useful glossary in our web pages.