Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Training and Teaching Others Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
• Prepare children for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
• Instruct students individually and in groups, adapting teaching methods to meet students' varying needs and interests.
• Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.
• Demonstrate activities to children.
• Read books to entire classes or to small groups.
• Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or special academic interests.
• Observe and evaluate children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
• Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
• Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help.

Further Information

• Early Childhood Educator - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Early Childhood Educator - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Early Childhood Educator - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

To become an early years care teacher, you must meet certain qualifications requirements. Learners can develop from pathways in care via Aistear & Siolta in early childhood education. The qualifications & vetting must meet Dept of Children Early years qualification requirements click here. 

Further education & Training development pathways

FET Centre Traineeship: Early childhood care & education [Ecce], Facilitation courses in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 5-6 Search our FET Coursefinder

FET PLC Courses: Early childhood care & Montessori education [Ecce] at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search our FET PLC Coursefinder

Apprenticeship: There are currently no apprenticeships live in this occupational area search apprenticeship

Higher Education CAO Entry: Montessori Education, Early childhood care health & education courses available around Ireland NFQ Levels 6-8 Search our CAO coursefinder

A number of institutions offer Montessori training at diploma and degree level in Ireland including:

• NM701/ NM801 The St. Nicholas Montessori College, (Dun Laoghaire, Cork, and Limerick)
• CR440 Montessori Education Cork Inst Technology (MTU)  
• Direct Apply Montessori Colege, Mount St Mary's, Milltown, Dublin

Professional Development 

Postgraduate Study Options Early Childhood Care & Education at NFQ level 9 Search postgrad courses

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €24k - €34k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Payscale.com/ Indeed.ie / Glassdoor.ie

Last Updated: April, 2023

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2025).

Employment growth was below average for childminders and related roles with some fluctuation in levels since 2019; employment declined by 1,100 persons since 2023. Almost all employed were female and approximately half were working part-time.

Despite the fall in employment, there was a high level of recent job hires, indicating a high level of turnover for these roles. In addition, a relatively high number of jobseekers registered with DSP in

December 2024 were classified as previously employed in childcare roles. Vacancies notified through DSP Jobs Ireland were mainly for early years educators, playgroup leaders and childcare practitioners. New employment permits issued were mainly for playgroup leaders.

Demand for these roles will be determined by demographic factors (i.e. the falling number of 0–4-year-olds in the population), the levels of childcare usage and Government childcare strategies such as the National Childcare Scheme.

There is significant supply from education and training for these roles, with approximately 5,300 awards across NFQ levels 4-9, although the extent to which this represents new supply or upskilling of the current workforce is unclear.

• Childminding Ireland, The National Childminding Association of Ireland Ltd

  • 9 Bulford Business Campus, Kilcoole, Co Wicklow.
  • (01) 287 8466
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

  • 43-49 Mespil Rd, Dublin 4.
  • (01) 647 3000
  • Click Here

• Early Childhood Ireland

  • c/o Childminding Ireland
  • 01 4057100
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Tusla – Child and Family Agency,

  • Floors 2-5, Brunel Building, Heuston South Quarter, Dublin 8.
  • (01) 7718500
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here