For someone who enjoys working with young children, becoming a home-based educator can offer something quite different from working in a traditional early childhood centre.
You can provide early learning in a home environment, build close relationships with a small group of children and become part of their everyday development. But what is actually involved in becoming a home-based childcare educator in Auckland?
Here are some of the main things to understand before you get started.
What does a home-based educator do?
A home-based educator provides early childhood education and care to a small number of children in a home setting. The role is much more than supervising children.
An educator helps children learn through play, conversations, everyday activities, outings and relationships. Depending on the service and arrangement, the role can include:
- planning age-appropriate learning experiences
- observing children’s interests and development
- maintaining a safe and welcoming environment
- communicating with parents and whānau
- documenting learning and daily care
- attending professional development
- working with the service’s programme coordinator or visiting teacher
For the right person, it can combine meaningful work with the flexibility of working in a home environment.
Do I need an early childhood qualification?
There are qualification and service requirements for educators working within licensed home-based early childhood services in New Zealand. Because someone’s existing qualifications and circumstances can vary, the best starting point is to speak with the provider before assuming that you are — or are not — eligible.
Home2Grow currently supports educator development and provides guidance around relevant study and professional development. If you are interested but do not yet have the right qualification, that does not necessarily mean you should rule the opportunity out before having a conversation.
What makes someone suited to home-based childcare?
Qualifications matter, but the work is also highly relational. A good home-based educator needs to genuinely enjoy being around children and be comfortable with the responsibility that comes with caring for them.
Patience. Young children learn at different speeds and have very different needs.
Reliability. Families are depending on you as part of their working and family lives.
Curiosity. Great learning experiences often come from noticing what children are already interested in.
Communication. Parents want to know how their child is doing and feel comfortable raising questions.
Organisation. Running care from a home environment still involves planning, records, routines and safety requirements.
You do not need to turn your home into a miniature childcare centre. In fact, one of the strengths of home-based education is that learning can happen naturally through everyday experiences.
What does the home need to be like?
The environment needs to be appropriate and safe for young children and meet the requirements associated with licensed home-based ECE. That does not mean owning a huge house or creating an expensive purpose-built classroom.
The more useful question is whether the home can provide a safe, comfortable environment where children have opportunities to play, rest, explore and learn. A provider can explain the relevant home and safety requirements and help you understand what changes, if any, may be needed before you begin.
Will I be working completely on my own?
You may spend much of your day working independently with children, but a good home-based provider should give you a wider support network. This is worth investigating carefully when comparing providers.
Ask:
- How often will someone visit me?
- Who do I call if I have a concern?
- Is curriculum support available?
- Is professional development provided?
- Are there opportunities to meet other educators?
- Are resources available for children’s learning?
Home2Grow says its educators receive programme-coordinator support, educational resources and development support, and can attend monthly playgroups and outings with other educators and children. For someone entering home-based ECE for the first time, that support can make a significant difference.
Can I work around my family?
Flexibility is one reason people investigate home-based childcare work. However, it is still a professional commitment. You are agreeing to provide reliable care during the hours arranged with families, so it is worth thinking realistically about how this will fit with your household, other commitments and the other people living in your home.
If you have your own young children, discuss your circumstances with the provider because licensing, ratios and funding rules can affect individual arrangements.
What does a typical day look like?
There is no single timetable for a home-based educator. One day might involve:
- morning free play
- reading together
- preparing fruit or lunch
- outdoor play
- a walk to the park
- visiting a library
- attending a playgroup
- arts and crafts
- quiet or sleep time
- talking about what children noticed during the day
That everyday variety is part of what can make the role appealing. Learning often happens through ordinary moments rather than through a rigid classroom timetable.
How do I get started?
If you are considering becoming a home-based educator, you do not need to have everything figured out before making an enquiry. A sensible first step is to speak with a licensed home-based provider and find out:
- whether your circumstances are suitable
- what qualifications you currently hold
- what training may be required
- whether your home is suitable
- what checks and documentation are needed
- what support the provider offers
- how families and children are matched with educators
You can then decide whether the role genuinely suits you before moving further into the process.
Could home-based education suit you?
For the right person, home-based early childhood education can be a rewarding way to work closely with children while creating a learning environment built around relationships, everyday experiences and a smaller group.
It does carry responsibility, and there are regulatory and professional requirements to meet. But you do not need to navigate those questions alone.
If you are based in Auckland and interested in becoming a home-based educator, contact Home2Grow for an initial conversation about your experience, circumstances and the steps involved in joining its educator network.