What were you doing before starting your apprenticeship?
I did one year at sixth form and realised it wasn’t for me, moved onto my apprenticeship!
Why did you choose an apprenticeship in the Early Years field?
I always wanted to be a teacher but I thought that I would have to do sixth form to reach this goal. After research I realised an apprenticeship was a good option for me!
What does a typical week look like (work vs training)?
I work Monday through Friday, all coursework is done in my own time on weekends and of an evening.
What new skills have you developed since starting?
I’ve learnt complete time management, the understanding of emotional regulation and how to manage stress and happiness at the same time
Can you give one example of how you’ve used these skills at work?
Time management had allowed for me to safely and correctly track children’s sleep, their nappy changes, medication administration and many other things.
What has been the biggest challenge so far?
The biggest challenge for me personally has been learning to work as part of a team as most of the time I would much rather do things on my own.
What support helped you overcome it?
My room lead (Ch) giving me the opportunities to do things I like to do alone but also enabling me to see why working as part of a team can be so helpful!
What are your next steps after completing your apprenticeship?
Now I’ve completed my level 2, I would like to move into my level 3 and eventually go to university!
Has this apprenticeship helped prepare you for your career? How?
It has helped my gain experience in a working environment rather than just staying in education I have learnt to work through real life situations rather than just reading about them.
What has been the best part of your apprenticeship so far?
The best part of my apprenticeship so far was gaining key children, I love seeing them develop and grow in real time and getting to be the one to share all the great news with the parents.
Would you recommend an apprenticeship to others? Why?
I would recommend apprenticeships to people who are willing to work hard but have fun, I think people forget apprenticeships are jobs they are very different environments from being in school.
Poppy’s apprenticeship journey highlights the value of learning in a real working environment. From mastering time management and emotional regulation to developing confidence as part of a team, she has grown both personally and professionally. Poppy’s story demonstrates how an apprenticeship can be a powerful and practical route into a career in education.