III. EXPLORING POSITIONS
Description: Assists in the classroom under the direction of the Teacher, Head of Group or Assistant to Head of Group. May be assigned as a one-on-one aide to a child with special needs.
Knowledge, Skills and Dispositions: The Aide should have some knowledge of child development, and the policies and procedures of the setting. The Aide needs listening and oral communication skills to carry out directions given by Teacher, Head of Group, Assistant to Head of Group, and assists in routine activities of the classroom. Attitudes of cooperation, desire to work with children, and reliability are necessary for this position.
Employment Settings: Program aides work in the following:
- Public School (See SECTION II, SETTING F)
- Private School (See SECTION II, SETTING E)
- Child care and education programs (See SECTION II, SETTINGS A.1,2,3 D,E,F)
- Head Start (See SECTION II, SETTING C)
- Residential Programs (See SECTION II, SETTING E)
- Special Education Programs (See SECTION II, SETTINGS C,E,F)
Required Qualifications: High School Diploma or substantial experience working with children under 13 years of age. All persons holding this position must be cleared through the NYS Central Registry of Child Abuse and their fingerprints must be submitted to the required authorities. (These are guidelines according to state child care regulations and do not apply to all the settings listed.)
Preparation: Some individuals take early childhood courses in high school as preparation for employment as an aide. (These are guidelines according to state child care regulations and do not apply to all the settings listed.)
Continuing Education: For those individuals working in child care centers licensed by NYS, fifteen hours of training must be received during the first six months of employment with 30 hours completed within the two year registration/licensing period of the child care setting and 30 hours every two years thereafter. Training must be completed within the program’s two-year registration/license period. The training is for the program’s registration/license, not the individual staff person participating in the training exercises. If an individual leaves program A after six months, the individual must still complete the 15 hours of training within the first six months in program B. The individual does not take the training experiences when they change employers. The training credits remain with program A and are credited toward program A’s registration/licensure process. Training must address the following topics:
- Principles of child development, including the appropriate supervision of children, meeting the needs of children enrolled in the program with physical or emotional challenges and behavior management and discipline.
- Nutrition and health needs of children
- Child day care program development
- Safety and security procedures, including communication between parents and staff
- Business record maintenance and management
- Child abuse and maltreatment identification and prevention
- Statutes and regulations pertaining to child day care
- Statutes and regulations pertaining to child abuse and maltreatment.
Job Outlook: Positions as an Aide are often available due to the high turnover of employees in this area.
Earnings:The Aide position begins close to minimum wage, but may be higher depending on setting, geographic area, and experience of applicant and additional trainings.
Opportunity For Advancement: With experience, training and further education the Aide may move into Assistant to Head of Group or Assistant Teacher positions.
Related Careers:
Serving Children Directly – Nanny/governess, one-on-one special services aide, camp counselor
Serving Families Directly – Family worker, home visitor, home health aide
Providing Information Goods and Services – Children’s library assistant, sales of educational merchandise