Career Advice for a Preschool Teacher

As a Preschool Teacher, you will be responsible for providing a safe and nurturing environment for young children to learn and grow.

Quick Links

How to Become a Preschool Teacher

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become a Preschool Teacher

Should you wish to work as a Preschool Teacher you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Preschool Teacher

  • A Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education or equivalent.
  • A Level 2 qualification in English and Maths.
  • A valid DBS check.

Key Responsibilities for a Preschool Teacher

  • Planning and delivering age-appropriate activities and lessons.
  • Assessing and monitoring children's progress and development.
  • Communicating with parents and carers about their child's progress.
  • Creating a positive and inclusive learning environment.
  • Ensuring the health and safety of all children in your care.
  • Continuing your professional development through training and courses.

What to expect as a Preschool Teacher

As a Preschool Teacher in the UK, you will work in a variety of settings such as nurseries, pre-schools, and early years centres.

Recommended Preschool Teacher Jobs

Loading Jobs...

How to get Preschool Teacher Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Preschool Teacher job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Preschool Teacher application. If you have not held a Preschool Teacher position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Preschool Teacher role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Preschool Teacher CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Preschool Teacher application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Preschool Teacher in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Preschool Teacher 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Preschool Teacher and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Preschool Teacher experience.

How to get Preschool Teacher Experience

What does it take to be a Preschool Teacher? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Preschool Teacher jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Preschool Teacher through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Preschool Teacher Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Preschool Teacher part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Preschool Teacher or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Preschool Teacher freelance work

If you have impressive Preschool Teacher qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.