How to Become a Nursery Assistant
The Role of a Nursery Assistant
A nursery assistant supports the teacher with various activities and duties. These responsibilities may include helping to prepare and set up the nursery for activities, assisting children with reading, writing, and learning, as well as reporting on children’s progress to both the teacher and their parents or guardians. The children typically range from birth to 5 years old.
The roles and responsibilities of a nursery assistant can vary depending on the workplace, but here’s a general overview of the duties you can expect:
- Taking the children on outings to places of interest
- Helping children to develop language and numeracy skills though games
- Arts, music, crafts and cooking
- Making sure that each child is collected by someone known to the nursery
- Performing domestic duties such as preparing snacks and cleaning equipment and toys
- Recording any possible accidents in the official accident book
- Washing and changing children when necessary
- Providing comfort to an upset or poorly child
- Sending key educational data about the school to the Department of Education or equivalent
Nursery Assistant
Skills & Requirements
You can start a career as a Nursery Assistant by obtaining a relevant qualification, such as a Level 2 in Childcare. Each course, qualification, and provider may have different entry requirements, so it’s important to check the specific criteria for the course you’re interested in.
- Stamina and energy
- To be patient, tolerant and resilient
- Flexibility
- A sense of fun, and creativity and imagination to provide activities
- Communication skills
- To be caring, understanding and able to give encouragement
- An understanding of children's physical, social, intellectual and emotional development
Nursery Assistant Salary
The typical nursery assistant salary is around £19,000 per year, with starting salaries being slightly lower. As a nursery assistant, you will generally work year-round unless your nursery operates on a school term schedule. In such cases, your salary might vary depending on how much of the year you actually work, in contrast to more typical roles where you can expect to work regularly throughout the year.
Your income as a nursery assistant will depend on several factors. Firstly, your location plays a significant role. For example, in areas like London, nursery assistants can expect to earn about 25% more than in other regions, due to factors like the higher cost of living. Therefore, it’s important to research how pay varies across different areas.
Another key factor is experience. As a new starter with limited experience, your salary will likely be lower, particularly if you’re working part-time or in an entry-level position. However, as you gain experience, your earning potential increases. After acquiring experience in the role, you could expect to earn around £24,000 per year. Progressing to higher roles, such as a nursery nurse, is also a common career path with higher salaries.
- The average salary for a nursery sssistant in London is £19,349
- The average salary for a nursery assistant in Manchester is £19,961
- The average salary for a nursery assistant in Leeds is £18,852
- The average salary for a nursery assistant in Newcasle-Upon-Tyne is £19,298
Nursery Assistant
Working Hours
As a Nursery Assistant, you will normally work 35 – 40 hours a week. Shift work is likely.
Nursery Assistants often benefit from school holidays, and weekend work is not usually involved. There are part-time and job-share opportunities.
The summer term stretches from the end of the Easter break to mid-July.
It includes a half term week long holiday in late May.
This is usually the busiest time, with later students sitting their GCSE’s.
The academic school year starts in early September, with the term stretching till Christmas.
The winter term is a half term holiday, usually a week long at the end of October.
Most schools have a 2 week end of term holiday stretching over New Year and Christmas.
This is the spring term and stretches from early January to Easter.
Easter usually falls on a different weekend each year, so the end of term two-week break can be either early April or late March.
This term also included a week-long half term break, usually in mid-February.
Nursery Assistant Career Progression
If you’re aiming to earn a higher salary as a nursery assistant, it’s beneficial to acquire additional skills and qualifications that will make you more competitive in the job market. Having the right supporting qualifications will increase your chances of being considered for higher-level positions or better-paying opportunities.
For example, having a safeguarding qualification is invaluable in any role where you work with children or vulnerable individuals. You might also consider pursuing courses in areas such as understanding autism or obtaining a first aid qualification. With these additional certifications, you’ll be seen as a more valuable potential employee and be more likely to secure higher-paying roles or be considered for promotions as you progress in your career.
- Room leader
- Senior nursery worker
- Centre manager
- Early years teacher