When it comes to writing a cover letter for childcare roles, showing you’ve got what it takes for this special, challenging and rewarding career is vital - you want to showcase your unique skills, experience and personality while demonstrating how you meet the job specifications and/or selection criteria. But how do you actually go about it? We have compiled some tips for writing an interview-winning cover letter for childcare, and provided some childcare cover letter examples to get you on your way to achieving your dream job.
Whether you’re an extremely experienced childcare provider seeking a high-level job, or need to write a cover letter for childcare assistant with no prior experience, this article will help you to work with what you’ve got to your best advantage.
Starting out
Before you sit down to write your cover letter, you need to be thoroughly prepared. Make sure you have an up-to-date resume to accompany your cover letter that will verify its contents and provide details on your past experience, then gather information about the job you’re applying for, and the childcare business. It’s imperative you tailor your cover letter for each position you apply for, as doing the extra research will make your cover letter stand out. Here are some things to research and include in your cover letter:
- The job description and specifications, and prior experience or certificates required
- The name of the hiring manager
- What makes this business special: why do you want to work for that particular company? Check out this article to see what sorts of things make a childcare centre special
- The business values, vision or mission statement
Structure of your Cover Letter
The cover letter is essentially a formal letter written in paragraphs, with an introductory sentence, a body that contains the bulk of important information pertaining to the job and your own experience, and a closing summary that brings home why you’re the best person for the job. Cover letters are usually 1-2 pages long (sometimes jobs will specify how many pages), but bear in mind that hiring managers have limited time to read letters, so keeping it concise and relevant will work in your favour.
Paragraph one
Address your cover letter to the person who will be reading it, introduce yourself and explain why you’re applying for the job.
I am a Child Care Educator seeking the role of Child Care Assistant with the Smith Road Early Learning Centre.
Here is where you add why you are applying to that particular centre, showing that you’ve done your research, value and respect the workplace you’ll be coming into, and why you’re confident you are well suited to working there.
My professional values of child-centred learning, commitment to safe and compassionate care, and evidence-based education are aligned with the vision of Smith Road ELC. As a comprehensive ELC with state-of-the-art facilities and nature-play spaces, Smith Road offers diverse experience across the early childhood continuum in a dynamic and supportive environment.
Paragraph two
In this paragraph, you need to convince the hiring manager that you are best for the job. To do this, use your experience and skills and personality traits to demonstrate how you meet the job description and/or selection criteria. If there is a list of skills, selection criteria or domains that must be addressed, try writing these as headings for this paragraph to ensure you cover everything (delete these headings and make sure your sentences run smoothly once you’ve finished).
For example, if one of the areas to be addressed was ‘demonstrates understanding of child development’, you could write:
Having recently completed Certificate III in Education, I have an extensive understanding of the developing child, which has been enhanced by two 8-week placements in ELC’s where I worked with children from age 0-5 years old.
If you don’t have industry experience, you can still show that you’re suited for the job by demonstrating how your experience is transferrable:
While this is the beginning of my career in childcare, the skills I mastered in my role as Customer Service Representative are directly transferrable: I have excellent communication skills, supported by training in conflict resolution, developed through working directly with a diverse range of clients to find creative solutions to problems.
If you’re writing a cover letter for childcare assistant, and have no prior employment history, utilise your personality and any work experience, or informal work such as babysitting, you have undertaken to demonstrate your suitability for the role.
Paragraph three
This paragraph is for summarising why you’re the best person for the job and inviting further contact. Mention your supporting documents and referees, thank them for reading your letter, and encourage them to contact you for further information.
In summary, I have the knowledge, skills and experience to bring outstanding performance to the role of Child Care Assistant at the Smith Road ELC, where the organisational vision is aligned with my career aspirations. I have attached a resume and three professional referees in support of this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for your consideration.
Kind regards,
John Smith
Final cover letter hints and tips
- Write your letter in Times New Roman, 12 pt. and don’t add any fancy graphics or blocks of colour which may scramble the Applicant Tracking System programs
- Sell yourself! Get straight to the point, highlight your key skills, and don’t use deprecatory words such as ‘believe’ or ‘think’
- Be yourself- its cliché, and not necessary to be informal, but do show your unique personality, values and qualities.
- Work health and safety, along with hygiene, is very important in ELCs. Check out this article for best hygiene practice in childcare so you can impress your potential employer with your impeccable hygiene knowledge and skills.
Now that you know where to begin, you can use these childcare cover letter samples and ideas to get started – remember that this is the first step to achieving your dream career, so keep your sights on your ultimate goal and give it your best shot.
Once you’ve landed that job, take it to the next level and offer to get the centre signed up to toddle to bring the business more exposure and connect families to their wonderful services.
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