PEOPLE changing careers are being targeted in a new drive to recruit more childcare staff for Scotland’s nurseries.

The A Job and A Joy campaign was unveiled yesterday by the early years minister Maree Todd as part of a fresh bid to expand the number of men and women working in the sector.

It is being launched to help provide the extra staff needed to fulfil the Scottish Government’s target of offering 1140 hours a year of nursery education – an increase from 600 hours a year – to parents of preschool children by 2020.

It is the second campaign to attract workers to the sector following one launched last year focusing on recruiting school leavers.

To expand the workforce, the Scottish Government is creating almost 2000 more training places at university and college this year and supporting a substantial increase in the number of modern apprenticeships.

The A Job and A Joy campaign emphasises the rewarding, enjoyable and meaningful nature of a job in childcare.

Commenting on the launch, Todd said yesterday: “We know that when people consider changing career they want to achieve a good work life balance and do rewarding and meaningful work. A career in childcare does exactly that. Our expansion of funded nursery education and childcare will create thousands of high quality and well-paid jobs across Scotland.

“Working with children is rewarding, enjoyable and meaningful, and this is the focus of our A Job and A Joy campaign. I urge those thinking of changing jobs to seriously consider a career in childcare.”

Nicola Johnstone, nursery practitioner at Country Bumpkins Nursery in Inverness, said: “I recently changed my job from being a hairdresser to working in a nursery and I absolutely love it. It’s such a rewarding role. Seeing children’s happy faces makes you feel happy and there’s a real sense of achievement. I enjoy being part of a team and there’s lots of creativity, no two days are the same.”

Country Bumpkins Nursery manager, Nicola Bartlett, added: “We have a number of people who have changed careers and moved into childcare here at the nursery. I think the fact that it’s a fun and varied job makes it attractive, and that you’re really making a difference to the children’s lives so it’s also very rewarding. At our nursery we like to spend lots of time outdoors and on the nearby beach. We’re currently developing an outdoor classroom too, so children can choose to spend the day inside or outside.”

The expansion of early years learning is a key Scottish Government policy intended to help more parents back into full time work and by doing so support economic growth. But some councils have come under fire for increasing fees. SNP-led Glasgow city council has been criticised by parents for hiking fees from £2.54 to £4 an hour from this August. The First Minister was asked to intervene in the matter last week after it emerged some parents would have to pay more than £200 per month per child for a place. Nicola Sturgeon said it was a decision for the council, but added Glasgow had increased the number of free childcare hours available to families earning under £30,000.