Hampshire has the highest population of any ceremonial county in the United Kingdom, and includes three cities: Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth. The area is also home to many small villages, coastal towns and beautiful countryside, so there is a wide variety of places to live and work.
Childcare employment in the area includes work in schools, nurseries and private homes. Childcare work is often part time, to match the hours of schools and nurseries. However, nannies and au pairs are more likely to work typical working hours, to cover the times that the parents are out at work themselves.
Childcare qualifications will allow staff to progress to more senior roles, but are not necessary for many childcare jobs. However, a DBS check is obligatory for any job working with children. A typical salary for a nursery nurse in Hampshire is around £6.50 per hour, but could be higher depending on the employee's experience and how much responsibility they will be expected to take on.
Nursery staff are often sourced by recruitment agencies, who specialise in finding suitable candidates for childcare jobs. Childcare is a growing industry as more women choose to return to work after giving birth, so it can provide a secure income and good career prospects.