How To Become A Nursery Teacher
Want to know how to become a nursery teacher? Explore the qualifications, training routes, and career paths to kick-start your journey in early years education.
How To Become A Nursery Teacher
Introduction
Becoming a nursery teacher is a rewarding career and a great way to make a difference in young children’s lives. Nursery teachers play a key role in supporting children as they learn, grow and discover the world around them. If you’re passionate about working with children, and want a career that combines creativity, care and education, this could be the perfect path for you.
There are several different routes into this career, whether you’re just leaving school, thinking about a career change, or looking to gain a new qualification while working. In this guide, we’ll walk through what a nursery teacher does, the qualifications you’ll need, and the main pathways you can take, so you can find the option that suits you best.
What Does A Nursery Teacher Do?
A nursery teacher’s job involves creating a safe, fun and nurturing environment where young children can learn and develop essential skills, and prepare them for their future. They work with children aged anywhere from age 1 to 5, helping them explore through play, storytelling, creative activities, and everyday routines.
Everyday looks different for a nursery teacher, but typical tasks include planning activities that support children’s physical, emotional, social and cognitive development. Nursery teachers also observe and assess each child’s progress, communicate with parents and carers, and make sure the team are following all safeguarding and health and safety rules.
To be a great nursery teacher, you’ll need specific qualities like patience, kindness, creativity and good communication skills. Above all, a genuine love for working with children and a commitment to their wellbeing and development will make all the difference in this rewarding role.
What Qualifications Do You Need?
Becoming a nursery teacher usually means gaining specific qualifications that show you’re trained to support children’s learning and development. Most roles require a Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification, which teaches you the skills needed to work confidently with young children.
Before that, many start with a Level 2 qualification or equivalent, which covers the basics of childcare and early education. These qualifications often include studying child development, health and safety, and practical skills for working with babies and toddlers.
In addition to these requirements, many employers expect you to have GCSEs or equivalent in English and Maths. Don’t worry if you didn’t get these at school, many training providers offer support or alternative functional skills courses to help you meet this requirement.
Whether you choose to study full time at college, take an apprenticeship, or attend university, gaining the right qualifications is a key step in your nursery teacher journey.
Different Ways to Become a Nursery Teacher
There’s no one size fits all way to become a nursery teacher, the best route depends on your circumstances, learning style, and career goals. Here’s a quick overview of the main options:
Apprenticeships - Apprenticeships let you learn while you earn by working in a nursery and gaining a recognised qualification at the same time. You’ll get hands-on experience, mentorship from experienced staff, and a wage - making it a popular choice for people who want practical training without the cost of university.
College Courses - Many colleges offer both full time and part time early education courses. These usually involve a mix of classroom learning combined with some work placements in local nurseries. This route could be a good option for you if you prefer structured study and want to focus on theory alongside practice.
University - If your goal is to become a qualified teacher with a Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), then going to university is often necessary. This can be achieved through early childhood studies degrees, or taken as an additional qualification after your Bachelors. This route offers a strong educational foundation, but can take up to 4 years to complete, and acquires student debt.
Each path has its own pros and cons, so it is worth thinking about how you learn best, whether you want to earn money while training, and where you see your career going in the future, before making a decision.
Skills and Qualities Needed to be a SEN Teacher
Being a SEN teacher isn’t just about having the right qualifications, it’s about having the right mindset too. It takes a special kind of person to work in this kind of role: someone who is patient, adaptable, and deeply committed to helping every child succeed, no matter the challenges.
Here are some of the key skills and qualities that make a great SEN teacher:
- Patience and Empathy - Progress can look different for every child, and it doesn’t always happen quickly. SEN teachers need to be able to stay calm, compassionate and understanding, even when things don’t go to plan, or progress often feels like steps backwards.
- Adaptability - What works for one pupil might not work for another. Some days, you might feel like all of your training isn’t working, but this is when you’ll need to be able to think on your feet. SEN teachers need to be able to change their approach or try new strategies to meet the needs of their students.
- Strong Communication Skills - Whether it’s working closely with families, liaising with specialists, or supporting children who use alternative forms of communication, SEN teachers must be able to listen carefully and communicate clearly.
- Observational Skills - Spotting subtle changes in a child’s behaviour or mood can make all the difference. SEN teachers are often highly tuned in to the emotional and social cues of their students.
- Creativity - Sometimes, supporting a child’s learning requires thinking outside the box - whether that’s through games, visuals, movement, or hands-on activities. SEN teachers often have to bring lots of imagination to their work.
Work Experience Matters
Whichever route you choose, gaining hands-on experience in a nursery or childcare setting is essential. It is one thing learning the theory of childcare in lectures or text books, and a whole other thing actually doing it. Practical experience helps you apply what you’ve learnt, build confidence and understand the realities of working with young children.
Many employers look for candidates who have already spent time volunteering or completing placements in nurseries, as it shows you’re committed and familiar with the work environment. This experience also helps you develop important skills like teamwork, communication and observing children’s development.
Keep in mind that working with children requires a background check before you’d be able to gain any type of work experience - usually a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check - to ensure the safety of the little ones in your care.
If you’re unsure where to start, try asking local nurseries about work experience opportunities, which is often required of students of secondary school age anyway. This is a great way to get your foot in the door and decide if nursery teaching is the right fit for you.
Career Progression in Early Years
Starting as a nursery teacher or early years practitioner opens up a range of opportunities to grow your career. With experience and further qualifications, you can move into roles with more responsibility, such as room leader or head practitioner, and eventually nursery manager.
There are also chances to specialise in areas like Special Education Needs (SEN) support, speech and language development, or pastoral care. Some nursery teachers choose to continue their studies by pursuing Level 5 qualifications, Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) or even a Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which can lead into teaching roles in primary schools.
The early years sector values ongoing learning and development, so there’s plenty of scope to progress in your career and shape it to match your interests and skills. If you want to talk to someone about a career in childcare, drop us a message and our expert team will be able to talk through your options and find the right role for you.
Conclusion
Becoming a nursery teacher is a journey filled with purpose, creativity and the chance to make a real impact on young lives. Whether you take the college route, start an apprenticeship, or work your way up through hands-on experience, there’s a path to suit everyone.
It’s a career that requires dedication, patience, and a genuine love for working with children. If you’re thinking about taking that first step, now’s the perfect time to explore options and start building a future in early years education.
Both the Impact Futures and The Childcare Company brands are used interchangeably for both Impact Futures Training Limited and The Child Care Company (Old Windsor) Limited.