PRE-SCHOOL CHILDCARE ASSISTANT

The Pre-school Childcare Assistant is concerned with providing care for infants and toddlers until they reach primary-school age.

Description of the occupation

A Pre-school Childcare Assistant’s primary duty is looking after infants and toddlers and taking care of their diet and safety. S/he ensures that the infants/toddlers follow a proper diet, keeps them clean and helps them improve their walking, kinetic and speech skills. S/he protects young children from accidents or other hazards in the day nursery/childcare centre area. S/he is responsible for the children’s physical and mental health, as well as their smooth development.

Additionally, under the guidance of and in collaboration with the pre-school/nursery teacher in charge, s/he offers parents advice and guidelines about the proper development and upbringing of their children.

Personal traits and competences

The occupation of a Pre-school Childcare Assistant is demanding and requires very responsible work on the part of attentive and meticulous professionals, especially when they work with children with special needs.

The main personal traits needed are love for children, patience, responsibility, consistency, creativity and imaginativeness, as well as composure and ability to follow rules and instructions.

Technical knowledge and skills

Upon graduating, Pre-school Childcare Assistants are able to:

apply childcare and pedagogy principles regarding the promotion of physical and mental health and development of infants and toddlers, as well as their education and socialisation
participate in providing full care for infants and toddlers in terms of body hygiene and proper diet, and encouraging them to become self- sufficient
participate in the daily pedagogical programme, which is aimed at the full development of infants and toddlers (physical, mental, emotional and social)
ensure that all the children they look after participate in the relevant activities, and create a climate of affection, acceptance, safety and joy
observe the children’s reactions, notice possible changes or pathological symptoms and inform the pre-school/nursery teacher in charge accordingly
adopt all the necessary hygiene and safety measures
draft reports for their supervisors and update the children's files
co-operate with the cleaning and auxiliary staff in keeping the nursery areas clean
prevent accidents in the areas where pre-school children are hosted
offer first aid and manage emergencies
substitute for the nursery/pre-school teacher in his/her absence.

Employment prospects

The Pre-school Childcare Assistant can be employed in:

public and private day nurseries
maternity wards (newborns department)
summer camps
family planning centres
reception and accommodation centres for infants and toddlers (e.g. Mitera Infants' Centre, SOS villages, etc.)
creative occupation centres
playgrounds
private companies providing pre-school childcare facilities for their employees’ children
freelancing (providing care and education for infants and young children at their own house).

Working conditions

Pre-school Childcare Assistants work in day nurseries/pre-school childcare centres, where the overall environment is very pleasant, and are in constant contact with the children they look after. Contracting viruses and diseases from young children is a very common phenomenon among Pre-school Childcare Assistants. Pre-school Childcare Assistants work individually but also in groups when collaborating with other professionals working in the same place.

DYPA Website

More information about the occupation "PRE-SCHOOL CHILDCARE ASSISTANT" can be found by clicking on the button below.

Learn more

EOPPEP Website