How to become a nursery assistant

Nursery assistant jobs require a kind and caring attitude, along with great observational and organisational skills. Is it the right role for you?

In this guide we’ll look at how to become a nursery assistant, including the skills and qualifications required, as well as where the job can lead. 

What is a nursery assistant? 

A nursery assistant looks after small children at a nursery – typically from birth up to the age of five. The aim is to help the little ones with their early development, providing a safe and supportive environment. Nursery assistants plan and oversee play sessions and help the little ones with their early development. 

What tasks are involved in nursery assistant jobs? 

The responsibilities of nursery assistants include:

• Creating a clean, safe and child-friendly environment in the nursery.
• Making sure they’re happy and safe. 
• Communicating information to children through play.
• Distracting them when they have to have clinical procedures, like injections. 
• Encouraging the little ones’ development; ie helping them to learn number and language skills through games
• Coming up with ways to engage all the children, especially those who might have special or sensory needs.
• Maintaining the toys and play equipment. 
• Feeding and changing babies. 
• Keeping records. 

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Nursery assistants work under the supervision of a qualified nursery nurse. Nursery nurses have additional tasks that might include:

• Establishing an everyday routine for the nursery. 
• Supervising staff. 
• Coming up with and overseeing a programme of activities for the children, such as arts, music and crafts.  
• Attend meetings. 
• Working with other professionals and healthcare workers. 
• Attend meetings. 
• Promote public health and good parenting. 
• Observing the children and making notes to include in reports. 

Nursery assistants work in health centres, community centres or children’s centres. Some work in hospitals. Sometimes they visit families at work. They work closely with children’s parents and carers, and might work alongside nurses, health visitors, midwives and social workers. 

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What skills are needed?

The skills, qualities and personal characteristics that a nursery assistant needs are:

• Interested in working with children. 
• Imaginative. 
• Caring, kind and compassionate. 
• Patient and understanding. 
• Reassuring and encouraging. 
• Flexible and adaptable. 
• Aware of health and safety. 
• Keen to learn about protecting and safeguarding children. 
• Excellent communication skills – including listening. That goes for speaking with both children and adults. 
• Very good people skills.
• Top organisational skills. 
• Keen observational abilities. 
• Able to work well with others. 
• Good at working under pressure. 

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How to become a nursery assistant 

You can look for work as a nursery assistant straight from school; you’ll usually need GCSEs in maths and English as a minimum. Employers will usually want you to have some experience of childcare. That might be voluntary or paid, for example with family or babysitting. You might be able to volunteer at a local nursery or after-school job.

There are several qualifications which will help when it comes to applying for jobs. You can do these either at college or via an apprenticeship. That’s a programme where you work and study at the same time, learning on the job, studying towards a qualification and earning a salary. 

Relevant qualifications include BTEC National Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development and NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development. To get on to a childcare course, you’ll need GCSEs. 

Relevant apprenticeships you could apply for include the early years educator advanced apprenticeship or the Children and Young People's Workforce Level 2 apprenticeship. 

Search for ‘nursery assistant’ on the government’s Find An Apprenticeship website to have a look at what the role involves, and what the entry requirements are. 

The role of nursery assistant can lead to nursery nurse with experience and a qualification. As an experienced nursery worker you could then specialise in working with children who have learning difficulties, for example.

Main photo by Andrew Ebrahim on Unsplash