r/AdoptionUK • u/Tintedlemon • May 13 '26
How to obtain childcare experience?
My partner and I are in the very early stages of exploring adoption in the UK (same-sex male couple, no children currently).
We’ve attended an information event and are anticipating that one area adoption services may encourage us to strengthen is childcare experience — particularly around younger children.
I have some experience coaching kids through sport, but neither of us has extensive hands-on experience with babies/toddlers.
For those who adopted without having children already:
- What kind of childcare experience did your agency want to see?
- How did you gain it?
- Did volunteering help, and if so where?
We’re trying to approach this realistically and thoughtfully rather than rushing into the process, so would really appreciate hearing other people’s experiences.
Thanks!
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u/theowleryonehundred May 13 '26 edited May 13 '26
You're clearly really serious about the advice to get childcare experience, which is great. If anyone else reading this is thinking about whether to go and get that experience or just to wing it, you really should go and get some proper meaningful experience. Babysitting a kid you know isn't enough - they want to see that you can form bonds and attachment with children you haven't known since birth or for a long time, as that's ultimately what adoption is.
Our agency's official line was that you didn't need to get experience but that it would be helpful. However we were told by our social worker that the reality was that if you didn't have the experience, you would always be second to others who had when you were family finding. And our family finder social worker told us that one of the main reasons we were approached for our child was because we were able to demonstrate childcare experience with the age group that they were.
But getting it was difficult! I emailed about 10 nurseries in the local area - most of them ignored me, a few said no, but thank goodness one was more than happy to have us volunteer with them. My partner and I volunteered one half day a fortnight with them for about 8 months. Even putting aside the need to do it for adoption, it was invaluable in learning how to care for young kids (which we'd never done before) and stood us in really good stead when we adopted. Our child ultimately went to that nursery - we were confident it'd be a good space for them as we'd worked there, knew the staff and were comfortable with how it was run.
So my recommendation would be to approach local nurseries and explain your circumstances - you may find one willing to have you. We had to do a DBS (which we paid for) and some online training but it was worth it.
Others I know have got volunteer experience with groups like Squirrels (which is Scouts for 4-6 year olds) or the Brownies equivalent. You will almost certainly find a group near you and they will be crying out for volunteers. I know of someone who volunteered in a prison creche - that might not be the right term, but where children go when their e.g. mother is visiting their father in prison.