Kieran Cameron

• As an Advanced Nursery Practitioner, I support children’s learning, development and wellbeing while taking on additional responsibilities within the nursery. Day to day, I help plan and provide engaging activities, complete observations and support children with their individual development. I also help ensure high standards of health and safety, provide personal care when needed, support other staff members and build positive relationships with children, parents and carers. I work as part of the team to create a safe, welcoming and stimulating environment where every child feels supported and encouraged to learn.

• As nursery practitioner it is a busy and varied role, supporting children with their learning, development, care and wellbeing throughout the day. My responsibilities include providing personal care, such as helping children with toileting, nappy changes, hand washing, dressing and ensuring they are comfortable and well cared for. I may also prepare and give bottles to babies safely, following individual feeding routines and guidelines. A big part of my role is supporting children’s literacy and numeracy development through activities, stories, songs, games and everyday experiences, such as counting objects, recognising numbers, learning sounds and developing communication skills. As a Nursery practitioner i also carry out observations of children to monitor their progress, interests and development, which helps them plan suitable activities and experiences based on each child’s individual needs. Planning is an important part of the role, as a practitioner i create engaging activities that support children across different areas of learning and development. I may also take children on daily trips into the local community, such as visits to parks, libraries, shops or walks around the area, giving children opportunities to explore their surroundings, develop independence and learn through real-life experiences. Throughout the day, I work closely with colleagues and communicate with parents and carers to ensure children receive consistent, safe and supportive care.

Doing my apprenticeship helped me gain valuable experience by allowing me to work in a real childcare setting while studying towards a qualification at the same time. It helped me develop my practical skills, confidence and knowledge, while also giving me the opportunity to put what I learned into practice. This experience prepared me well for my future career in childcare.

• Working a weekend job in a chippy/café helped me become more confident when speaking and interacting with people. It taught me how to communicate with different customers, work as part of a team and stay calm in busy situations. This experience helped me become more comfortable around people and improved my communication and customer service skills.

• Volunteering at a childcare setting helped me gain valuable experience and build my confidence when working with young children. It allowed me to develop important skills such as communication, patience, teamwork and responsibility. Through this experience, I realised how much I enjoyed supporting children with their learning and development, which helped me decide that a career in childcare is something I would like to pursue.