We caught up with Natasha to hear about her apprenticeship journey, the skills she’s developed and how the experience has supported her growth as an Early Years Educator.

What motivated you to pursue a career in early years education?

“I have grown up around childcare and always had a love for the job. I wanted to help make a difference in enhancing children’s learning and supporting them through their early years of life.”

Can you share an example of a challenging situation you’ve faced while working with children, and how you handled it?

“I have had to have difficult conversations with parents to help their child have the fullest and learning rich experiences while keeping their families involved and included in their development. I have had to have conversations which are uncomfortable for both people involved but I keep the relationship strong and positive and help the parent trust me whilst taking the time to learn their thoughts and ideas and their reasonings.”

How do you encourage children to develop their social skills and emotional well-being?

“By observing the children and my key children I have learnt what their interests are and the different things they enjoy doing so I use this to my advantage to ensure the room is inclusive and inviting for them when they come in in the morning and experience transitions. I set up activities that the children all enjoy so they are able to talk about their shared interests and build bonds and relationships with one another.”

How do you manage your time and balance your apprenticeship with the practical work you do at your placement?

“I make sure to have a schedule and routine which I followed so I knew what was happening next. This also helped me to plan and prepare my studying and use my time wisely to ensure I got the most out of each study time. My team at my work supported me and helped with getting spontaneous time out which helped me to meet deadlines and achieve my goals.”

Looking back at your apprenticeship so far, what do you feel you have learned most about yourself as an early years educator?

“I have learnt to be more patient and how to support children’s interests and learning, particularly when they are feeling nervous or unsure of what’s going on around them.”

We also asked Natasha to invite her manager to share their perspective on her professional development and the progress they’ve seen throughout her apprenticeship.

Natasha’s manager has seen first-hand the positive impact her apprenticeship has had on both her professional development and the nursery. They shared that Natasha has “put so much of her learning into practice”, resulting in a positive impact on her key children and the way the room operates. They also praised her ability to “track her children’s learning effectively and enhance the provision”, highlighting how she has successfully applied her knowledge in the workplace.

Throughout her apprenticeship, Natasha has grown significantly in confidence, with her manager noting that she now has “solid knowledge and a firm understanding of the why behind a lot of our practices”. This increased confidence has enabled her to communicate effectively with parents about their children’s learning and development, as well as confidently discuss her practice during internal audits, demonstrating the valuable contribution she makes to the nursery.

Inspired by Natasha’s experience? Our Level 3 Apprenticeships are a great way to build your knowledge and develop practical skills.

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