Early Years and Education Apprentices Share Their Career Journeys
“You’re just so proud because the children learn new things every day”: in this article, early years and education apprentices share their career journeys to date.
A job in early education and childcare is unique and rewarding. You get to be part of a child’s early education, supporting them with developing key skills and helping to shape their future. No matter what the day brings, you will feel joy in seeing children grow, learn and flourish.
Early years educators play a vital and rewarding role in helping children get the best start for life and preparing them to begin school. An apprenticeship is a great way to start your career in early education and childcare.
For this article, we spoke to Harley and Scarlet, who are both apprentices in early education settings. We also spoke to Amy who started her career as an apprentice and is now an Early Years Educator at a nursery. They share their experience of their route into the sector and why they love what they do.
Harley is a Level 3 apprentice at Buttercup Corner Nursery in Oldham.
I started at Buttercup Corner Nursery as holiday cover and then I found the love for this job and I thought I want to do it as an apprenticeship. It’s based all here and my tutor will come to me and work with me and see how well I’ve done in the week.
Watching the children grow is a massive thing for me personally and I get so much out of it, I feel inspired.
I knew when I came into this job I thought, “I’m going to be the only male no matter what”, but to me it doesn’t feel like a setback, it doesn’t feel like a challenge. To me, the children will be inspired. It’s nice for them to have a role model, especially for the boys as well, they see an older man working in this profession.
They always say if you come into a job and you love it, you always feel happy to be there, you’re not dreading the start of the day. I’m like ‘let’s go, we can do this!
Scarlet works at the Special Educational Needs and Disability Nursery in Rochdale and is also a Level 3 Apprentice. She reflects on how working in the early education and childcare sector is incredibly rewarding, despite the challenges.
This nursery was my first interview ever and I got it and it’s just, I know that it’s what I want to do for the rest of my life.
You’re just so proud because the children learn new things every day and even the smallest things, like any little change, it’s just amazing. Just the way that they can make you feel so loved and appreciated and they can really like validate you and show you that you’re doing a good job.
I think you need to be quite bubbly and really energetic and happy and just willing to willing to make that difference and try. It’s just being willing to take it on, even with the challenges, like it is really hard, but just realise it’s all part of making these children who they are.
Amy works as an Early Years Educator at Buttercup Corner Nursery in Oldham and started her career there as an apprentice.
I came straight from school at 16 and now I’m 22. As an apprentice you’re learning, obviously you’re getting taught new skills, you’re getting taught how to do different things. I’ve basically grown up here!
You’re teaching the children life skills from day one, it’s a very rewarding job at the end of the day.
I’d say to anyone who wants to give it a go, I’d really recommend it!
