A Real Career Progression Story in Early Childhood Education

Career progression in early childhood education can often look like Katie’s. Starting as an Educational Leader, being backed by mentors who saw potential before she did, and moving into a Program and Practice Partner role within two years. Her story shows what a real early learning career pathway looks like at Edge Early Learning, beyond the job title changes.

If you’re wondering what career growth actually looks like in childcare and early learning, Katie’s journey is a good place to start.

What roles has Katie held at Edge Early Learning?

Katie joined Edge in 2024 as an Educational Leader, walking into a brand-new centre before the rest of the team had even started.

“It was a mixture of excitement and nerves,” she says. “Thankfully, I didn’t have too many names to remember, as we were a new service waiting to open, with a new team due to start a couple of weeks later.”

Since then, she’s moved into the role of Program and Practice Partner, a step up that comes with a wider remit across programs, pedagogy, and leadership support across multiple centres.

“It’s been really rewarding seeing how much I’ve grown along the way,” she says. “My responsibilities have changed, but the biggest change has probably been in my confidence and how I approach challenges.”

What does an Educational Leader actually do?

Job titles in early childhood education don’t always explain what the work involves day to day. So we asked Katie to describe her old job the way the children in our centres would:

“I help the grown-ups get better at looking after the little children. I go to different rooms, ask lots of ‘why?’ questions, listen, help people fix tricky things, tell everyone they’re doing a great job, and sometimes say ‘That’s ok, let’s try again.’ Basically, I’m a senior educator who helps other educators keep their play-based and inquiry-based teaching skillset in line with national early learning standards. And obviously there should be snacks involved!”

It’s a fair summary of what a Program and Practice Partner role involves in the early learning sector: coaching educators, embedding quality practice, and supporting centre teams to deliver strong outcomes for children.

Why do people stay long-term in early childhood education careers?

For Katie, it comes down to one recurring moment.

“That feeling when a little person runs up to you, shouts your name and is genuinely excited to see you, even though you had only met once, a couple of weeks prior. There’s something really special about knowing you’ve made a positive impact in a child’s world.”

Asked what the job gives her that nothing else could, her answer is simple: “It gives me the privilege of watching little people grow, knowing that in some small way, I’ve helped shape their journey.”

Who helped Katie progress into a leadership role?

Career progression in early childhood education rarely happens alone, and Katie’s is a good example of why mentorship matters in this sector.

“A previous Centre Director of mine encouraged me to apply for the educational leader role that became available at my centre,” she says. “This is where I established my deep passion for everything program and practice and really found my feet as a leader.”

That first vote of confidence led to another: her Program and Practice Partner at the time, Katice, suggested Katie step into the practice role herself. “Something I didn’t even think would be within my reach.” When Katice moved on, the opportunity opened up, and Katie applied.

“This was the challenge I was so ready for,” she says, crediting her current manager, Sam, and the wider Edge Program and Practice team for the support since. “I definitely found my people – a team of pedagogical leaders who I felt aligned with, and where I have been able to thrive for the past 12 months.”

What’s a typical “day in the life” story from the childcare floor?

Ask anyone who’s spent real time in an early learning centre, and they’ll tell you the job comes with funny stories that sound made up, but aren’t.

Katie’s: “All of a sudden, I had a sudden feeling of warmth on my legs. The moment hit me when I realised it wasn’t just warm, it was wet! I called out in shock to my colleague, ‘I’ve been peed on!'”

There’s a gentler side effect of the job too. Years of using key word signing with children has crept into Katie’s life at home. “I often found myself telling my dogs ‘finished’ whilst signing to them when I was telling them something was done,” she admits.

What advice would Katie give someone starting a career in early learning?

“Don’t put pressure on yourself to know everything straight away. Ask questions, learn from the people around you, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Some of the biggest lessons come from the days that don’t go to plan. Most importantly, enjoy the little moments. It’s the little moments that keep you going and remind you why you decided to take this journey.”

Find out more about careers at Edge or current opportunities.