Childcare CV examples

Looking after children is about so much more than just keeping them entertained – it’s about helping them learn and develop in a secure and nurturing environment. Your CV should reflect that same level of care and attention to detail.

Whether you’re an experienced childcare professional or just starting in the field, this guide will help you organise your skills and experience to create a CV that leaves a lasting impression.

Parents and employers need to know they can trust you with one of the most important responsibilities: caring for children. A clear and coherent CV layout will ensure that recruiters can quickly understand your experience, qualifications, and approach to childcare.

Here’s the structure your CV should follow:

• Name and contact details – Keep your name and contact details front and centre at the top. Whether or not to include a photo is your decision.
• Profile – Start with a snapshot of your childcare skills, career highlights, and professional aspirations.
• Core skills – Bullet point a quick snapshot of your most relevant abilities, such as safeguarding, child development, and behaviour management.
• Work experience – Walk through your professional experience, beginning with your latest position and moving backwards.
• Education – Outline your education and certifications, focusing on those most relevant to the role, like first aid training.
• Additional info – This section is optional, but it’s a good place for hobbies or interests that complement your CV.

Hiring managers need to assess your suitability for a childcare role quickly – just like a well-planned daily routine keeps children engaged, a well-formatted CV keeps recruiters interested. If your CV format is hard to read or full of mistakes, it won’t showcase your skills effectively.

To keep things clear and professional, follow these formatting tips:

• Bullet points – Break down key responsibilities and achievements for easy scanning.
• Divide sections – Keep everything structured so hiring managers can quickly find what they need.
• Use a clear and readable font – Keep it professional and ensure it’s a font that’s easy to read.
• No more than 2 pages – Keep it a concise length, highlighting only your most relevant experience and skills.

Your CV profile section is where you introduce yourself and highlight your unique approach to childcare. It’s your chance to make a great first impression by summarising your key strengths and experience in just a few sentences. Above all else, writing a CV profile is about convincing hiring managers of the benefits to hiring you.

Here’s what to include:

• Childcare experience – Mention the settings you’ve worked in, such as nurseries, schools, or private homes.
• Developmental focus – Showcase how you support children’s learning, emotional growth, and social skills.
• Safety and safeguarding – Employers value professionals who understand safeguarding policies and first aid.
• Communication skills – Mention your ability to work with parents, guardians, and educators to ensure the best care for children.
• Behaviour management – If you have experience in handling challenging behaviours and promoting positive learning environments, highlight it here.

Below your profile, you should bullet point the key skills that are required in childcare. This section helps recruiters quickly see that you’ve got the specific abilities needed for the role.

The best part is that your CV skills section is especially easy to tailor to different roles. If you specialise in early years education, highlight your knowledge of developmental milestones and play-based learning. If you work with older children, focus on homework assistance, behaviour management, and structured activities.

Caring for children isn’t just about supervision – it’s about shaping their development, ensuring their safety, and fostering positive experiences. Your experience section should demonstrate how you’ve contributed to children’s well-being and learning, putting your aforementioned skills to good use in practical environments.

Start with your most recent role and work backward. If you’re new to childcare, highlight any relevant roles where you’ve demonstrated responsibility, patience, and care – such as babysitting, volunteering, or assisting in school settings.

• Outline – Introduce the childcare setting, your role, and the age groups you worked with.
• Responsibilities – Mention your key tasks, such as planning activities, ensuring safety, and supporting children’s learning. Use action verbs like “supervised” and “engaged”.
• Achievements – Highlight measurable successes, such as helping a child reach key developmental milestones, improving learning engagement, or receiving positive feedback from parents.

Childcare roles often require formal training, so listing your qualifications clearly is essential. Beneath your work experience, outline each relevant part of your education history that underline your expertise.

Include any early childhood education diplomas, safeguarding training, certifications in paediatric first aid, or relevant degree. If you’re still developing your career, highlight any ongoing professional development courses related to childcare.