Nursery role is child’s play for Jenni after a Foundation Apprenticeship
Teenager Jenni Emmanuel has landed her dream job in childcare after going the extra mile during work experience on a Foundation Apprenticeship she took at school.
Jenni knew she really wanted a career in childcare after choosing a Foundation Apprenticeship in Social Services: Children and Young People as a subject in her final school year – and hasn’t looked back.
As part of her Foundation Apprenticeship, Jenni, of Aberdeen, worked with Aberlour Futures to complete assessments and did a work placement at Kaimhill Nursery in Garthdee, Aberdeen.
She was responsible for planning and leading activities and learning experiences that were inclusive for all children – and quickly showed a natural talent for childcare. The 17-year-old also volunteered an extra two days a week because she enjoyed it so much.
Foundation Apprenticeships provide school pupils with the skills employers need, offering industry insight to gain a work-based learning qualification at the same level as a Higher.
Jenni completed a Foundation Apprenticeship at SCQF Level 6 while at school.
Jenni said: “A Foundation Apprenticeship is a good subject choice because it gets you real life experience out of school.”
Having completed her Foundation Apprenticeship qualification and left school, the former St Machar Academy pupil drew on the experience to secure the role of Early Years Assistant at Treehouse Early Care and Education Centre in Aberdeen, which is operated by Bright Horizons in partnership with Robert Gordon University. She now plans to start a Modern Apprenticeship.
Jenni added: “Doing the Foundation Apprenticeship really helped with my job interview because I could talk about my experiences and show what I had learned already.”
Jenni’s achievements have led to her being a finalist at the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards in the Foundation Apprentice of the Year category sponosred by BAE Systems.
Staff working with the Jenni during her apprenticeship say she worked hard to provide a safe, stimulating and nurturing environment in line with the nursery’s own objectives.
According to former nursery colleagues, Jenni developed meta skills including communication, critical thinking, creativity and collaborative working and regularly demonstrated that she was putting the skills and knowledge she had gained into practice.
Kaimhill Nursery Senior Early Years Practitioner Lynsey Gordon said: “Jenni was very polite, friendly, had a great relationship with all the children and she fit right in with all the staff. It was like she was a member of our team.
“She was just so caring and would often use her own initiative to set up activities and if we’d have had a job for her, we’d have offered it to her.”
Aberlour Futures Foundation Apprenticeship Tutor Linda Strachan said: “Jenni was highly motivated and went above and beyond with her learning.
“She was quite shy in school but has grown into a confident young woman who is flourishing in childcare – I could not be prouder of her.”
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The winner of the Foundation Apprentice of the Year category sponsored by BAE Systems will be revealed during Scottish Apprenticeship Week, which takes place from 4 to 8 March.