Early years Apprentice Review

My role is to take care of children aged 18-24 months providing meals and overall care from 8:00 - 6:00. I have key children in which I am responsible for completing their paperwork in terms of development, to change their nappies and do their handovers. I also help with meals and activities. I help do cover in other rooms as well.

I have learnt a lot of skills whilst here. This is my first job and the first time I’m doing a course in relation to childcare. I feel as though I have increased in confidence and have shown an improvement in my maths and English from day to day tasks.

I enjoy the work I do when I am physically there. I find it difficult to stick to a lesson plan and schedule of work when I can’t physically see/be in a classroom setting. I enjoy learning lots of new things and putting them into practice when at work.

I think the programme is well structured and organised with regular check ins for support. I personally have struggled with the structure only because I forget things when I can’t see them on a regular basis. So because there’s no regular “lesson/learning” time I find it difficult to keep up.

I receive a good amount of support from my employer. They give good feedback to my assessor which helps me feel a little better about what I am doing. They let me know that if I do need some extra help their door is always open. One thing I wish I had more support with is having the time to do work during my shift as I get home late and can’t always find the time to get work done after completing regular and necessary self care/ hygiene tasks.

I receive lots of support from my provider. She is very understanding when I have trouble keeping up with the work. She offers alternatives and plans that adjust to me. Very flexible and always speaks kindly and is very helpful in explaining tasks to me when I am finding it hard.

I am given relevant tasks and assessments that I can learn from and implement into my setting. With the learning journal I can describe what work I have been doing and it helps me be more confident in what I am doing. I am learning lots from this course that I am regularly trying to apply to my work.

We don’t have events and things but on special occasions or just every now and then members of staff will meet up for brunch/food and have a relaxed catch up. Most of the extra curricular activities I do are personal separate to work so they don’t cross over.

Yes

I feel as though my nursery is a lovely place for the kids and as I have learnt lots from being there I think others will benefit from it too. I would recommend it as the other members of staff have been very nice and supportive for me doing my apprenticeship as they have all done similar.

For realise I would tell people to try and make the most out of time and make sure you keep a list of things to keep on track with. Remember that there is always a new opportunity to learn and to always ask questions if you are unsure as there is no shame in asking.