Why Work in Early Years?
A career in early years is about making a difference every day. Many people are drawn to working with young children because it is a meaningful and rewarding career centred around helping children to thrive. It is a privilege to shape a child’s early experiences and ensure they have the skills for lifelong learning.
Here is what some early years practitioners in Sefton say about their work:
“You definitely smile every day.”
‘Making a difference, building strong lasting relationships, fun and laughter! Never a dull moment.’
‘I love seeing those children who struggled to leave parents in September, running into nursery confidently and not wanting to go home at the end of the day.’
‘I love young children's honesty and unwavering passion for fun and adventures. Watching children grow and develop - challenging themselves and growing in self-confidence brings so much enjoyment to the career.’
The impact you can make
High-quality early years care and education have long-term impacts on children’s learning, development and wellbeing. Early Years professionals play a key role in helping children to build the skills and confidence they need for school and for life. To learn more about the key stages of school readiness in Sefton, visit our Ready to Learn and Best Start in Life pages.
You can also find out more about the importance of early years work on the GOV.UK website.
See what staff at All Saints Children's Ventures have to say about what they love about working in early years.
A supportive and valued profession
Our Early Years Team at Sefton Council recognises that a confident and capable workforce is essential to provide high‑quality provision for children. Supporting both new and existing early years practitioners is a key priority in meeting our statutory sufficiency duty. The team support recruitment and retention by:
- Organising and attending early years and childcare careers events to raise the profile of careers working with children.
- Working with local high schools to promote careers.
- Close partnerships work with Sefton at Work, Career Connect and the Jobcentre to encourage clients to consider a career in the sector.
- Access to online training courses for new employees.
- Partnering with local colleges and training providers, providing sessions to enhance student experience and share information.
Access to training, support and professional development helps our staff to feel confident and valued, which is vital for building long-term careers in early years.
For enquiries on Sefton's childcare recruitment and retention strategy, please contact earlyyearscareers@sefton.gov.uk
To see more about the practical next steps of finding a career in early years, visit our Training, Qualifications and Pathways page.