As a nursery officer, you’ll have a sizeable number of administrative duties, as well as direct contact with children, while you work to maintain order in a child care setting.  Typically, nursery officers are employed by larger daycare centers or nursery schools that have many students to manage.  In some ways, you can think of a nursery officer as being similar to a school principal.

 

Job Description

 

For the most part, you’ll be actively engaged in observing children and providing support for other caregivers in the facility.  In many cases, you’ll be responsible for maintaining student records and filling out different kinds of reports in order to comply with local and federal guidelines.  You might also spend time helping to feed and organize children, and making sure that staff members treat each child with respect and care.  You may also be responsible for speaking with parents about a wide range of issues, ordering supplies, managing budgets and generally ensuring that the facility operates smoothly.

 

Educational Requirements

 

As with many other child care specialists, you’ll need to obtain at least a bachelor’s degree in early childhood studies to be considered for a position as a nursery officer.  Depending on the facility you work for and geographic region in which you live, you may also be required to obtain a license or certification in your field of study.  In some cases, you may also need to prove that you have a certain number of years managing young children to gain employment in the field.

 

Finding a Job

 

For the most part, when you work in a nursery school, you’ll be in a prime position to advance to the role of nursery officer.  If you’re interested in this type of opportunity, it’s to your advantage to pursue the educational background and credentialing that will be attractive to your employer.  Aside from this, you can also look for nursery officer positions in job banks and newspapers.  You may even be able to find jobs in other geographic regions by searching online.

 

Career Opportunities

 

Once you become a nursery officer, there isn’t a lot of room for advancement, besides looking for another facility that will pay a higher wage.  If you aren’t satisfied with the facility you work for, you may want to consider opening your own nursery school.  If the area you live in is under served, you’re likely to find plenty of parents that are eager to place their children in your care.  If you decide to move on from the field, you may find that your background in nursery care makes you an ideal candidate to return to college to become a grade school teacher. 

 

As more families struggle with being two income households, more babies and pre-school aged children will be placed into nursery school programs, leading to an increasing demand for professionals in this field.  Nursery officers strive to bring together a wide range of specialists to create facilities that meet the needs of these children.  While much of your work will be administrative in nature, you’ll also have a number of opportunities to work closely with the children in the facility.  If you’re someone who cares deeply about the development of young children, this career could be for you.