Essex County Council has launched a recruitment campaign to boost the number of early year practitioners in the county’s preschools, nurseries, and childminding settings. 

The campaign “Make a change. Build a future” calls on those who have stepped out of the profession to return to the sector, as well as encouraging new entrants to join the profession and undertake relevant training or apprenticeships. It covers the private, voluntary and independent sector as well as school-run nurseries.

Targeted social media ads and newsletters will drive traffic to online information about a career in the sector, with plans to add videos and case studies in the near future.

The council has also produced a partner toolkit to support providers with their own recruitment campaign, which includes materials such as social media assets, newsletter banners and A4 posters.

Councillor Beverley Egan, cabinet member for children’s services and early years, said: “Stepping into a career in a preschool, day nursery, school-run nursery or starting up as a childminder, offers a very rewarding career, job satisfaction and flexible working. The sector offers training and development with so much opportunity for anyone looking for a fulfilling career.” 

Essex County Council developed “Make a change. Build a future” independently but plans to align with the Department for Education’s recently-launched campaign to promote early years apprenticeships to ensure a joined-up approach.

The early years and childminding sector in Essex includes 604 early years settings delivered by private, voluntary and independent providers,  100 school-based nursery classes, and 714 childminders who deliver funded early years and childcare places.