In the UK, it is estimated that only 3% of early years practitioners are male. With the first national UK conference ‘Men in the Early Years’ taking place in 2016 to promote the increase of men in the early childhood sector, progress is being made to close the gender gap. With a long way still to go, London-based Three Little Birds Nurseries is encouraging men beginning their careers to consider a role in early years education as part of National Careers Week (7th – 12th March).
Three Little Birds is flying the flag for men in childcare.jpg
Run as a not for profit organisation, the event is founded by a number of volunteers with a combined wealth of experience from the Education, Business and Careers Guidance sectors. National Careers Week aims to provide a link between how the education system aids young people in progressing on their career path.
Three Little Birds Nurseries was established in 2019 by cousins James and Ed Morris who had previously worked together in family businesses for seven years – one of which was a highly successful childcare company – and have been in the minority of men in childcare ever since.
James said: “As men in early years education, we have experienced first hand the stigma of men in the industry with caring roles long seen as only suitable for women.
“Ed and I are living proof that men are just as suitable as early years practitioners as our female counterparts and our role is to show men just how rewarding and fulfilling a role in child care can be. 3% is much too small of a statistic of men working in child care and we’d love to see this number increase over the next few years.”
In an age where technology is rendering careers in certain sectors redundant or obsolete, the childcare industry is protected as it cannot operate without caregivers – thus providing a career as solid as a rock. In the UK, the pre-primary education industry is estimated to be worth approximately £4.3bn and has benefitted from a growth rate of 3.3% from 2016 to 2021. This is forecast to increase from 2021 to 2026 with a growth rate of 4.3%. Since the introduction of parents being entitled to 30 hours of free childcare per week, the childcare sector has seen an increase in demand. With its growth rate expected to increase in the next few years, this is good news for those pursuing a career in the industry.
There are many benefits to working in childcare such as flexible working hours, creativity and career stability.jpg
A stable job is the minimum expectation for people starting out in their careers and most aren’t emotionally fulfilled until they have progressed much further within their industry. In early years education, employees can benefit from both right from the get go. The privilege of helping a child grow and develop is the foundation of why people enter the industry. Very few roles have ‘helping someone develop from a shy and quiet character into a vibrant and confident one’ in their job description but child care is the exception. As a practitioner in the industry, you have the honour of seeing a child develop socially and emotionally from the moment they start nursery to the moment they leave for primary school. Seeing how far they have progressed under your care is a feeling like no other and is not to be forgotten.
Since the pandemic, a flexible workplace is essential following the surge in a healthier work/ life balance and the childcare industry is a prime example of how this can operate. Given childcare facilities usually open for between ten and twelve hours per day, there is the opportunity for split shifts, and early or later starts. This may work well for people who want to finish at 3pm or prefer a bright and early 6:30am kickoff! Usually these shifts are rotating, however you should have a chance to have some flexibility. This works particularly well for people who have heavy home life responsibilities. There are also opportunities for diverse roles in the industry. Working as a Family Day Care educator can be a great way for people who want to work from home, while still earning a good income.
Unlike a traditional office setting where you’re often confined to a desk or a cubicle for the majority of the day, working within childcare is full of colour and spontaneity. You’ll get to move about the room freely with the children in a colourful, playful, and healthy workplace environment you’ll actually enjoy being in.
You’ll also get the advantage of your job never becoming boring or mundane. Every day is different within early years education and you never know what to expect when you’re working with children. For those who enjoy surprises and that infectious childlike creativity, a role in childcare won’t disappoint and you’ll leave at the end of the day feeling fulfilled and inspired.
The childcare industry holds a multitude of career progression opportunities for whatever gender and you’ll be a role model for children to look up to. They don’t see whether their care provider is a man or a woman, they see a figure who can shape their outlook on life for years to come. Let’s be real – that’s what really matters.
