New to the UK? How to Start Working in Childcare (2026) | Kalendit New to the UK? How to start working in childcare

An early years educator arriving at a nursery, smiling and ready for the day

For Educators · Getting Started

New to the UK? How to start working in childcare

If you love working with children and you’re new to the UK, nursery work is a brilliant place to start. Here’s how it works, step by step — nothing assumed.

Kalendit · July 2026 · 5 min read

Working in a nursery is one of the most rewarding jobs there is, and it’s an area where settings genuinely need good people. If you’ve recently moved to the UK and you’re wondering how to get into childcare work here, this guide walks you through the whole path — the qualifications, the checks, and the paperwork — in plain English.

The good news first

You don’t necessarily need to be fully qualified to start. Many people begin as unqualified or Level 2 educators and train while they work — nurseries value reliability, warmth and a genuine love of working with children just as much as certificates. So don’t let “I’m not qualified yet” stop you.

Your path to your first shift

Sort your right to work. Before any job in the UK, you’ll need to show you’re allowed to work here. If you’re not a British or Irish citizen, you do this with a free “share code” from the government — more on that below.

Get your DBS check. Everyone working with children needs a background check called a DBS. It’s standard, and we’ve got a simple guide to getting your DBS that walks you through it.

Sort your references. These are people who can vouch for you — a previous employer, a tutor, or a supervisor. New to the UK and worried you don’t have references here? That’s common and it’s not a barrier — a reference from your home country, a course or a placement can often work.

Start working. Once you’re set up, you can pick up shifts at nurseries near you, choose the days that suit you, and keep your full rate.

Proving your right to work

This is the step people worry about most, so let’s make it clear. If you’re a British or Irish citizen, your passport is all you need. If you’re from anywhere else, you prove your right to work with a share code — a free, 9-character code you generate online that shows an employer you’re allowed to work here.

You create it through your UKVI account on the official government website: prove your right to work (GOV.UK). The code is free, takes a few minutes, and lasts 90 days. If you’re not sure whether you need one or what applies to your situation, this official page explains it: check if you have the right to work in the UK.

A note if you’re unsure about your status

Every person’s immigration situation is different, and we can’t advise on individual cases — but you’re not on your own. The official GOV.UK pages above are the right place to start, and if you’re joining Kalendit and something’s unclear, just ask us. We’ll point you in the right direction.

What about qualifications?

UK early years qualifications run from Level 2 upwards, and you can earn more as you progress (our earnings guide shows how rates rise with each level). If you trained or worked with children in another country, that experience counts for a lot — bring it. And if you’d like to formalise it here, you can study towards a UK qualification while you work, which many educators do.

Ready to start your childcare journey in the UK?

Whatever your background, if you love working with children there’s a place for you. Join Kalendit and we’ll help you get set up and find shifts near you.

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This guide is general information to help you get started, not immigration or legal advice. For anything about your right to work or immigration status, always check the official guidance on GOV.UK or speak to a qualified adviser. Correct as of July 2026.