Early Years Educator

As an early education and childcare services manager, you run a nursery or children's centre. You are responsible for everything - from planning what the children learn each day, to hiring and training staff, to making sure the building is clean and safe. Your goal is to create a place where children feel secure, are curious, and start to love learning.

Your work is a mix of being with the children, managing staff, talking to parents and doing paperwork. You might start the day reading with three-year-olds, then move to interviewing someone for a job, then checking that your budget is correct. You need to know about how young children develop and learn, be a good leader who makes staff feel valued, and keep excellent records. The most rewarding part is seeing children grow and gain confidence - the hardest part is juggling everything and making sure no detail is missed when children's safety depends on it.