Abigail Harper

Apprenticeship:

City and Guilds Early Years Educator, Level 3

Employer:

The Old School Nursery / Little Nursery Company

Abigail's Story:

Abigail started her apprenticeship journey with Heart of Worcestershire College (HoW College) by beginning a level 2 qualification in childcare in 2017. This was completed using a delivery model of an assessor going into the workplace, once a month, to assess Abigail and to deliver knowledge-based theory during these meetings.  The College has now moved to a new model of delivery, a weekly workshop, which appears to be beneficial to both the learner and the assessor.

Abigail began her Level 3 qualification in 2019, at the age of 21, where she also needed to gain her Functional Skills Level 2 in English and maths. Although Abigail would be the first one to admit that she did not achieve what she wanted to at school, she decided that this would not put her off her future plans and she chose a career in Early Years.

It appears that at the start of the course Abigail’s employer appeared a little uncertain that the new delivery model would work: there were concerns that with Abigail being out of the nursery setting there would be an impact on ratios within the nursery. However, the benefits and the impact for the employer of the theoretical knowledge that Abigail was learning soon proved invaluable as Abigail grew in confidence and was able to consolidate the theory that she had learnt and put this into practice.

It is a great achievement that within three years Abigail gained a Level 2 and Level 3 qualification in Early years and Level 2 Functional Skills in English and maths.

Following Abigail’s successful completion of her Level 3 qualification she also gained a Supervisor role with her current employer. 

Talking about her apprenticeship, Abigail said:

 “My Tutor Jane helped me through my childcare course when I needed her, she was an amazing Tutor and I honestly didn’t think I would get through it but I did - I believed in myself. 

I attended college every Monday without fail; I think when you’re at college for 6 hours straight every Monday it gives you a lot of time to do the work you are set and Jane’s there to help you. The course goes on from 12 months 1 day to 2 years, and I was so proud of myself when I had completed in 11 months.

I would definitely recommend HoW College and if it wasn’t for Jane I wouldn’t be where I am today- Thank you!”