Modern Apprentice Case Study by Skills Development Scotland
Child's play for Modern Apprentice
Derek Edwards a 20 year old from North Kessock near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands is proving a success in the childcare sector thanks to national programmes that couple practical training with the achievement of recognised qualifications.
Derek Edwards is a nursing assistant at Little Angels in Dingwall where he has worked for the past two years as a Skillseeker. He has recently completed his Children's Care, Learning and Development level 2 and is now progressing on the Modern Apprenticeship programme working towards the level 3 qualification. His duties include caring for children of 2-3 years old and planning their painting, arts and crafts, story-telling and musical activities.
Derek said: "I wasn't sure what to do career wise but my sister who works in childcare introduced me to it and I undertook some voluntary work to find out whether it suited me. I then applied for a job at Little Angels and I haven't looked back.
"I was delighted with the results and get a great sense of satisfaction seeing the children develop and grow through different stages. I hope to complete the level 3 qualification within the next year."
Highland and Moray Accredited Training Services works closely with Derek and his employer to ensure he has the support and training required to progress through the level 3 qualification in Children's Care, Learning and Development. All childcare workers have to have this qualification or be working towards it in order to work in the sector.
Owner of Little Angels, Lianne Anderson said: "Dere
k has proved to be a major asset since he started at Little Angels and he is popular with all the children that he is responsible for. He is quite happy to take responsibility if his supervisor is off and is a trusted member of the 12 strong team we have here. He is also one of only four members of staff who has learned sign language. This means the nursery can cater for children with hearing difficulties.
"Modern Apprenticeships are a great way for young people to get the right skills to follow their chosen career path and they provide employers like me with good quality and motivated staff that develop the right skills for the jobs they are in."
Derek says that before he started work in childcare he had little confidence but the Modern Apprenticeship and work at Little Angels has changed all that. He says: "I work in a fantastic environment and the staff here have been very supportive. We are a close-knit team and I would recommend anyone thinking of going down the modern apprenticeship route to go for it."