Recruitment

Would you like a career in childcare?

"I would recommend that if you are caring, like to learn new things, are able to pretend to drink numerous cups of tea, eat lots of pretend meals, have a little bit of an inner child and love to have fun, you have the foundations to start you off on a career in early years" - manager of a St Helens nursery.

Call our Early Years Quality and Inclusion Team on 01744 675397 or 01744 671051 or email our Early Years Quality and Inclusion Team at eyhub@sthelens.gov.uk

Watch the video below to see how wonderful childcare is as a career.

Early years qualification requirements and standards

Not sure if you have the correct qualifications to work in early years? The government's Early Years qualification requirements and standards website will help you identify the qualifications that staff must hold to be included in the specified staff:child ratios at levels 2, 3 and 6 of the early years foundation stage.

UK qualifications that meet Department for Education (DfE) criteria for counting in the early years foundation stage statutory framework staff:child ratios. Early years qualifications list: UK only - GOV.UK
In settings on the early years register, the manager of the setting must hold an approved qualification at level 3 or above and at least half of all other staff must hold at least an approved level 2 qualification. An approved qualification is defined by the Department for Education as meeting the criteria set out in the Early Years Qualification Requirements and Standards document. Approved qualifications are published on the Early Years Qualifications List ('EYQL') on GOV.UK except, as outlined in paragraphs 1.11 and 1.16 of the Early Years Qualification Requirements and Standards document, those which are not individually listed on the EYQL but count as approved qualifications if they meet certain criteria. Managers appointed on or after 4 January 2024 must have already achieved a suitable level 2 qualification in maths or must do so within two years of starting in the position. This also applies to existing managers moving to a new managerial role. Managers are responsible for ensuring staff have the right level of maths knowledge to effectively deliver the EYFS curriculum. Managers should have at least two years' experience of working in an early years setting, or have at least two years' other suitable experience. The provider must ensure there is a named deputy who, in their judgement, is capable and qualified to take charge in the manager's absence.
These qualification requirements do not apply to out-of-school provision for reception age children.
EYFS (Effective from 1st September 2025).

More information can be found about Early Years Qualifications in the EYFS 2025- EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers

National Early Years Recruitment Campaign

To post your vacancies go to Find a job further guidance on how to post your vacancies can be found by visiting YouTube- Find a job and don't forget to include 'Early Years' in your job title and 'Education jobs' for the job category.

DWP find a job instructions (PDF, 130 KB)(opens new window)