6 careers you can do with an Early Childhood Studies degree

You’re interested in BA (Hons) Early childhood studies and children’s development, but are you in the know about the range of careers that will be open to you once your course is complete? Why not take a look and find out where a degree in Early Childhood Studies could take you? And remember, this is just a taste of the many opportunities on offer.

1. Nursery Manager

As a nursery manager, you will oversee the daily operations of a nursery or early years setting, ensuring high standards of care and education for children from birth to five years old.

You will manage staff, co-ordinate activities and curriculums, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and health and safety standards.

Key responsibilities include staff recruitment and training, budgeting, liaising with parents, and maintaining a safe, nurturing environment.

Find out more about what it’s like to be a nursery manager with our Early Childhood Studies alumna, Doireann. 

2. Portage Worker

As a portage worker you would be based in a home environment and work with with children with complex or Special Educational Needs (SEN), as well as their families, to support learning and development. You will work closely with families to develop tailored learning plans that promote the child's development, helping them achieve specific milestones. 

Responsibilities include conducting regular home visits, assessing the child's progress, and offering practical advice and strategies to parents and caregivers.

This role requires a deep understanding of early childhood development, strong communication skills, and a compassionate approach to supporting families and young children.

3. Youth and Community Services

Working in the youth and community services area, you could find yourself in a range of situations working with a variety of people, striving to support and empower young people and communities.

You could find yourself designing and implementing programs that address educational, social, and personal development needs, often collaborating with local authorities, schools, and other organisations.

Your responsibilities may include providing guidance and counselling, organising activities and workshops, and advocating for resources and policies that benefit the community. 

This role requires strong interpersonal skills, a deep understanding of community dynamics, and a commitment to fostering inclusive and supportive environments. 

4. Family Support Worker

As a family support worker, you would assist families facing challenges by providing practical and emotional support to improve their well-being and stability. You will work closely with families to develop tailored support plans, addressing issues such as parenting, financial difficulties, mental health, and relationships.

Key responsibilities include conducting home visits, connecting families with relevant services and resources, offering advice and guidance, and advocating on their behalf.

This role requires excellent communication and problem-solving skills, a deep understanding of family dynamics and social issues, and a commitment to helping families achieve positive outcomes.

Early Childhood Studies

Find out more about the course.

5. Children's Centre Worker

As a children's centre worker, you support children’s learning and development from birth to five. You would be responsible for developing an enabling learning environment and developing relationships with children and their families, and act as a key worker supporting individual children to make the transition from home to the setting.

Tasks include organising and delivering activities such as parenting classes, play sessions, and health clinics, and you will often be working in collaboration with health visitors, social workers, and educational professionals.

Responsibilities can range from offering advice and support to parents, identifying and addressing the needs of families, and promoting child development through structured programmes.

6. Teacher

There is also scope to progress further as a lecturer, or gain specialist training to become a teacher, to specialise in special educational needs (SEN), early years leadership and/or management, or to become an academic researcher. 

We offer postgraduate teacher training in Primary Education, including the opportunity to specialise in SEN or mathematics, and a Master's programme in Education with specific modules available in the areas of Childhood Studies and Early Years Leadership. 

What should you do next?

Find a course

We offer an extensive selection of more than 100 courses, spanning a wide range of subjects for you to explore.

Find a course

Come to an Open Day

Expert academics, state-of-the-art facilities and an inclusive student community - there's so much going on at Birmingham City University. Be at the heart of it all at one of our Open Days.

View our upcoming Open Days

Sign up to find out more

Our emails are a great way to learn more about the University and find out what it's really like to study with us!

Sign up to hear from us

Download one of our helpful Guides

Our guides contain expert advice and guidance designed to help you before joining university.

Follow us on social media

Follow our social media channels to stay up-to-date with everything that's going on at BCU.