Level 1 is a great way to try childcare out first , it's part-time, unpaid, and mixes weekly online lessons with time in a real nursery, so you can see if it's for you without committing to a full-time job. Level 2 is the next step up, it's a paid apprenticeship, so you're working full-time in a real setting and earning a wage while you train.
Beyond nursery-based roles, early years careers can lead into Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) specialism, childminding, early years teaching, or setting management — with clear routes to each from the core Level 2 to Level 5 pathway.