Childcare and Education

The sector in a snapshot

The Education sector is a staple of the services available to all citizens in the UK- everyone will experience it at some point in their life. In Great Britain (2019) there were 1,567,300 people in 'teaching and education professions' roles, with 4.8% of these working in South Yorkshire. Traditionally, roles in this industry will be found in nurseries, schools and colleges in the public sector, however there is also a number of positions available in the private and third sector.

Interestingly, the number of females in the sector in South Yorkshire is twice that of the males (21,000 versus 10,800)! Statistics also suggest that teachers work on average 10 hours and 40 minutes a day. However, less than half of this time is spent teaching children which shows just how demanding but rewarding this sector can be!

What could the sector offer you?

Jobs in this sector are likely to:

Give you no two days that are the same- there is always something new going on when you work with others, especially children.
Offer lots of varied roles- not all of the jobs in this sector are in traditional schools, and can look at topics like welfare rather than just 'teaching'.
Give you day to day variety- roles could also include training roles in the home or for a business.
Give a career for life- Education doesn't stop just because you turn 18. Working with all ages and supporting the development of others can be highly rewarding and give you a life long career.
Have a chance to be self-employed- some staff work on contracts which mean that they are technically self-employed and able to set their own hours.
Promote lots of additional training and responsibilities- professional development is a feature of this sector so you can expect lots of opportunities to train.

Experience in the education and childcare sector is essential when securing a job/apprenticeship.
Make sure you a prepared for work!

Reality Check

Some roles will be school time only, which can influence the pay you receive per year (less overall, or you don't get paid for the weeks you don't work!). The expectations and regulations around working with young people can be very strict, so you need to be expect to evidence your work (and for schools, answer to governors!). Working in education isn't just a job where you can play with children- you will be expected to work extra hours, work in demanding situations with sometimes difficult people, and even have very difficult conversations. Not all children will have the best start in life, and sometimes you might be involved in supporting families through very difficult circumstances.

You will likely need to have skills in...

Organisation, time management, communication and listening, social awareness, work well with people of all ages, critical thinking, cultural awareness, adaptable, patience, understanding, caring and nurturing

Some roles in the sector

TEACHER -Primary and Secondary (Starting at £24,373 but can increase to £37,440- £41,600 depending on school, location, responsibilities and experience)

As a teacher you will be involved with the education and welfare of young people, varying from 0-18 years of age. A PGCE is needed to qualify you as a teacher. Day to day tasks of a teacher can be helping students learn new skills and information. With children 11+ this is usually a specific topic from the curriculum, and with younger children can include teaching them crucial life skills. Teachers need patience in order to manage the behaviours and needs of the class, which can be very challenging as well as excellent skills in supporting students to achieve their objectives. There is a potential for a teacher to take on extra responsibilities like after school clubs and subject specific objectives, or even the head of a department.

YOUTH WORKER (Average wage can reach £28,080 per annum)

A youth worker will be involved in the lives of young people, both in the home and in the community. They will work with at risk young people with the aim to improve their social and personal well-being. This may involve working with young people to deliver activities or interventions, but can also include administrative tasks. A lot of these roles exist in the charity sector. The role can be difficult, as the youth worker will often deal with very challenging, and emotional, situations.

Youth Worker- Prospects

LIBRARIAN (Average wage £18,500 to £42,000 -highly dependent on the type of librarian and the organisation)

A librarian will manage a collection of books and information resources, either in a setting such as a school or in the community. This will involve working to the needs of the clients of the library and helping the public to find the information they need. This is a very specific type of customer service, and the librarian will need to develop a deep knowledge of their collections and resources. In some settings, librarians may also be involved in events and cultural activities as public libraries have in the past few years been adapted as community hubs.

Getting a role as a librarian