Play leader Play leaders are employed in playgroups, out of school childcare settings, community centres, hospital playgroups, and clubs. It is the job of the play leader to plan appropriate learning opportunities for the children in the centre. You are more likely to be offered a job as a play leader if you hold an appropriate qualification and have suitable experience of working with children. There is no national requirement to hold a qualification. Many employers will prefer you to hold a qualification and a qualification will help you find a job.
Many parents begin a new career in childcare as play workers in their local playgroup.
Nursery nurses are known by a number of different titles, including nursery officers and early education and childcare workers. Nursery nurses may also work in primary schools to support the work of teachers. To be considered a nursery nurse you need to hold specific qualifications. The most widely recognised are the SVQ level 3 in Early Years Care and Education or the HNC in Childcare and Education 1 . Registration is not in itself any kind of qualification.