How to become a nursery nurse?

ChinaGriffin

Hello. I am really struggling to find a viable route into becoming a nursery nurse and wondered if anyone who may have been in my situation could give me any advice please?

I am 23, have reasonable GCSE grades but no further education. I went straight into catering work full-time after school and have been there until I moved 170 miles south last year to live with my LTBF. I have started working at a supermarket but desperately want to start a job with training, I feel like my mind is rotting away!

My situation is a lot worse because I don't really know anyone down here to put in a good word for me. I have had one interview in a nursery, which the manager said went very well but never gave me any feedback on why I didn't get the job, despite my kind worded emails. I decided to stop hassling her and focus on applying for other jobs. I don't even get a response from most employers, I'm not sure whether this is due to my lack of relevant qualifications or the high number of applications they receive.

I have rent and bills to pay, so would ideally need a job with training. I have looked at the home learning courses but you need to be working with children for the most part of the course.

Please help!

kingfisherblue

To become a nursery nurse, you would have to undergo training. You will need an NVQ, which you might be able to study for at a local college. This will include placements, though, so you might need to consider this when working. Placements are unpaid. Although you might get the course for free, I don't know whether you will be entitled to any help with living costs.

An alternative is to study for a foundation degree in Early Years. This can often be studied part time, but again you will need practical experience in a placement. You are likely to be interviewed and might need to show prior experience with children if you take this route, though.

I'm involved in a community nursery and the minimum that we employ are NVQ 2, but only if they are studying for NVQ3. We also offer placements to students.

Oldernotwiser

You might well be able to do your NVQs in childcare at evening classes and complete a voluntary placement during a period of annual leave.

Alternatively, you could look at working abroad as an au pair which would give you the experience to get interviews for jobs with training.