Scottish Government – A career change to bring you joy

ADVERTORIAL: NEW YEAR, new job . . . wake up and smell the “playdough!”

New phase of the Early Learning and Childcare recruitment campaign “A Job and a Joy” launches this week.

Career changers will be targeted across Scotland over the next month, a time of year when many people think about changing their job, as the next phase of the childcare recruitment campaign “A Job and a Joy” launches.

The “Wake up and Smell the Playdough” activity emphasises the rewarding, enjoyable and meaningful nature of a job in childcare. There is a range of jobs available, with training and development opportunities for a career in which individuals can “earn as they learn.”

The campaign supports the Scottish Government’s pledge to increase the hours of funded Early Learning and Childcare available to families in Scotland to 1,140 by 2020.

Results from a recent survey, which asked people across Scotland what aspects of work are most important to them when considering their ideal type of job, revealed that achieving a “work life balance” was most important (61 per cent), while 58 per cent put “rewarding work” in their top five considerations.

Another survey was conducted to assess what parents and children felt were important attributes for early learning and childcare practitioners. Seven out of ten (72 per cent) parents felt that the practioner should encourage children to develop social skills, while just under three fifths (59 per cent) felt it was important that they help children to learn new things. Over nine in ten (94 per cent) of parents confirmed their child looks forward to seeing the staff at their nursery.

Children aged between three and five were asked what they love best about the staff. Drawing and painting together came out top for girls (55 per cent), in contrast to the boys who preferred good story-telling (52 per cent).

Lauren Martin, senior early years practitioner at Balmullo Primary School, Fife, said:

“I became interested in a career in early learning and childcare after I had my own children. I was working as a hotel manager at the time, and soon realised it wasn’t a sustainable career, as my husband also worked long hours in his job as a farmer. I was volunteering at my daughter’s playgroup and the play leader suggested my skills would be well-suited to the nursery environment — I knew it was the right time to change my career.

“Personally, the most rewarding part of my job is watching the children flourish and thrive in nursery life.

“Watching a child grow from someone who didn’t initially enjoy nursery, to a confident, happy little person is fantastic. No two days are the same, and the children bring their own life experiences to learning, which provides exciting opportunities for development.”

As part of this phase of the national recruitment campaign; “A Job And A Joy” stands are visiting train stations nationwide and will provide commuters with the opportunity to find out more about working in childcare. They will also visit supermarkets and shopping centres across Scotland. For more information on a career with variety, creativity and lots of moments of joy, you can also visit https://childcarecareersscotland.scot