Private Nurseries

Would you like to work with children aged 0 to 5 years?

A career in a private nursery could be the right choice.

There are currently 40 private nurseries in the City of York, providing care and early education for children aged from 3 months to 5 years old. Nurseries range in size from small setting for 15–20 children to much larger settings, for around 100 children.

Private nurseries generally operate between 8.00am and 6.00pm, Monday to Friday, and are open all year round. They may be operating as a private business or as a workplace nursery for employees of large companies or organisations.

Most private nurseries have separate rooms or areas for groups of babies, toddlers and pre-school children.

Children attend private nurseries for a variety of reasons:

• Working parents
• Parents in full or part time further education
  Pre-school education
• Peer companionship

Who can work in a private nursery?

You can be male or female, a school leaver, a mature person returning to work perhaps after raising a family, or looking for a completely new career.

Do I need specific qualifications?

You can start work as a trainee nursery nurse or nursery assistant without having a childcare qualification. You will however need to have the academic ability to undertake on the job training to get a qualification.

There are excellent career opportunities for promotion, and with further qualifications and training you can progress to being a qualified nursery nurse, supervisor, deputy manager or manager of a private nursery.