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Learners

Career pathways

Choose a career and see the real picture: what it pays, how far it goes, the skills employers ask for, and what the job actually looks like day to day. Every salary figure comes from the UK Government's National Careers Service.

Choose your career area

Early years and childcare

From nursery assistant to nursery manager

Nurseries across London are recruiting, and the qualification levels map directly onto the staffing ratios settings have to meet — so a Level 3 makes you genuinely more employable.

Skills employers look for

  • Play-based learning
  • Child development
  • Safeguarding
  • Observation and assessment
  • Speaking with parents
  • First aid awareness
  • Patience
  • Creativity

Where this career can take you

  1. 01Nursery worker

    £16,000 to £24,000 a year

    Caring for babies and young children, planning play and keeping records of how each child is developing.

    Official role profile (opens in a new tab)

  2. 02Early years educator (Level 3)

    No official salary range published

    A qualified, countable member of staff who can lead a room and take key-person responsibility for children.

    Official role profile (opens in a new tab)

  3. 03Nursery manager

    £23,000 to £35,000 a year

    Running the setting — staff, Ofsted compliance, budgets and relationships with families.

    Official role profile (opens in a new tab)

  4. 04Early years teacher

    £27,000 to £42,000 a year

    A graduate route specialising in the learning and development of children under five.

    Official role profile (opens in a new tab)

Salaries are shown from starter to experienced and are a guide only — your pay depends on your employer, your hours and where you work. Source: National Careers Service (UK Government). We review these figures against the official profiles and update them when they change.

A day in the life

Nursery worker: Tayyiba's and Laura's stories — published by National Careers Service. Someone doing the job, in their own words.

How JFC gets you there

  • The qualificationUK-recognised, taught by people who have done the job.
  • One-to-one job readinessCV, cover letter and interview coaching — start with our CV and cover letter tool.
  • Employer interviewsIntroductions to the employers we work with, plus our live vacancies.

Qualifications on this pathway

Listed in the order most learners take them.

Want to talk through a career in early years and childcare?

Tell us where you want to end up and our team will explain the qualification, the funding you may be entitled to, and how we introduce learners to employers.

Enquire now 0207 732 9255