Care and support

Creche assistants / leaders

Creche assistants provide a safe friendly environment for children aged 0 to 5 years, whilst their parents/carers use other facilities in the complex.

Creches may be open 7 days a week. Creche assistants need to rapidly build relationships and establish trust with children whilst encouraging them to play. They need to quickly observe children in their care and respond to their needs appropriately.

Some creches operate a booking system, so activities can be prepared which are suitable for the ages of the children. Each child’s stay is limited so children arrive and leave at different times. As the number and age of children varies with the time of day and each day is different, staff need to be flexible, to understand and to respond to a range of children. Staff need to keep records for babies and children.

Creche leaders take responsibility for organising the day to day running of the creche, the maintenance of equipment and health and safety for staff and children. Supervising staff, ensuring good quality care, responding to enquiries and developing the service provided may be included.

An example of someone who has become a Creche assistant

Fay left school and went to college full time. She chose to study Social Care and completed a BTEC National. Whilst at College she was encouraged by a friend to apply for part time work at the creche. Fay started part time and increased her hours when she finished her course. Six years later Fay is the cr�e supervisor, and also manages to nanny for a school age child. “I enjoy the combination, at the creche every day is different, with a range of children”