Early Years childcare is a dynamic and vitally important sector which needs high quality staff at all levels. There are many different job roles available, with plenty of opportunity for training and progression. Typical roles include primary school teaching, nursery supervisor, childminder, classroom assistant and working as an Early Years Practitioner. Some people choose to work abroad as a nanny or join a cruise ship as a children’s rep, but there is also potential to progress further to become a Play Therapist or a Health Worker.
| Job role | Nursery Nurse | Primary Teacher | Teaching Assistant | Playworker | Childminder | Social Worker |
| Average Salary | £16,432-£22,651 | £34,000 | £17,701 - £23,566 | £16,370 | £18,054 | £33,405 |
Early Years childcare courses at Eastleigh College are taught by professionals, and provide child development and childcare theory from birth to eight years. Each course has a large practical element, which gives you hands-on professional training in pre-schools, day nurseries and schools.
Classrooms at the College have been designed to integrate teaching and learning in one space, which provides an excellent environment. The College also has close links with a wide range of employers, and can help broaden students’ understanding of childcare services through work placements.
In a bid to support the Solent and South Hampshire’s economic recovery in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Eastleigh College has launched an ambitious and collaborative pledge which aims to benefit individuals, employers and communities across the region. The pledge has been developed with support from a numbers of stakeholders including business groups, employers, councils, schools and University of Portsmouth.
In response to the rapid expansion of online education and the proliferation of virtual classrooms, Ofsted (the Office for Standards in Education Children's Services and Skills) is undertaking a national review to evaluate learners’ experience of the online learning available to them. Eastleigh College is one of the 12 FE colleges nationally invited to participate, and the only college from the Solent region.