Career investigation of Early Childhood Education

Description: When working with children you must nurture and care for them. Supervision is a key point you must always be watching the children ensuring their safety. Childcare workers organize activities for children, help children explore individual interests, and help keep children healthy.

Skills and Qualities: Essential skills for this career include communication skills and also Creativity skills. Essential qualities for the job would be a nurturing, hardworking, caring and very energetic person with good people and communication skills. I completed a skills inventory in our links module class and as a result I feel I would make a good childcare worker as I have the skills and qualities required for this job.

Qualifications and Training required:
Pathway 1:
University/College/Institute: Athlone Institute of Technology Course Name: Higher Certificate In Childcare Supervisory Management Course Code: AL665
Entry Requirements: Leaving Certificate grade D3 at ordinary level in five subjects. Two of these subjects must be Mathematics and a language (English or Irish) Duration: 2 year, Full time
Points needed: 305
Level: 8 Honours Degree
Course Overview:

Pathway 2:
University/College/Institute: Carlow Institute of Technology Course Name: Bachelor Of Arts (Honours) In Early Childhood Education And Care. Course Code: CW748
Entry Requirements: Leaving Certificate a Grade C3, or better, in two Higher Level papers, together with a Grade D3 at ordinary level or better in four other subjects. A pass in either Irish or English must be included Duration: 3 years

Points Needed: 340
Level: 8 Honours Degree
Course Overview:

ChildhoodEvaluation of career in light of Interest Assessment:
My interest assessment which I completed in transition year suggested I have the right skills and interest to become a childcare worker. I scored high in communication and interpersonal skills.
I also completed an aptitude test called the DAT’s. Here I scored high in verbal reasoning. A childcare would need to have good verbal reasoning especially when dealing with children.
Leaving Certificate Subject:
For my leaving certificate I am studying home economics and biology. These subject will help me when studying to become a childcare worker as it will have given me a good foundation and understanding of the therory of the course. Modules that I am studying in home economics e.g. Childhood development, and nutrients children need also how vital love and care is for growing children.

In biology we do experiments in groups. This is a way of getting used to working with people. Health and Safety is also another quality, which I have learnt in this class that plays and essential role in the job.

Outside School Experience:
During the summer of 5th year I helped my sister a lot with her young child who was around 4 months old at the time, this made me realise i’d love to work with children everyday and is why I have chosen it to do my career investigation on and also hope to persue when i go to college.

Evaluation;
Having completed this investigation I am more determined to work hard in school and to get the points required to become a childcare worker. This career investigation has helped me to become more focused in school.

I feel pathway one would best suit me, as Athlone is only 30 minutes away from my house, also a bus comutes from birr to athlone daily. The points are also lower for Athlone IT. My ICT and research skills have really improved as a reulst of this investigation. I am now more confident that this is a career that I will enjoy and be very happy in.