Katy Johnson, 18, from Letchworth, is breaking new ground in the world of contemporary children’s care as North Hertfordshire College’s first childcare apprentice. Katy began her one-year Childcare NVQ Level 2 apprenticeship course in September 2009, working with the long-established pre-school Tiny Hands, located at Grange Community Centre in Letchworth.
The opportunity to learn on the job while being paid a wage by her employer, and not be restricted to classroom learning, had great appeal for Katy who thrives in a hands-on situation. Tiny Hands, now in its 44th year, and is part of the Grange Fellowship Community Association. It cares for some sixty children aged between two and four; this is providing Katy with work based skills and a genuine insight to the realities of her chosen profession and has already gained her positive feedback from one of her line managers, Tina Malpeli, who said: “Katy is enthusiastic and a great team member; she has a lovely nature with the children and this enables them to develop their interaction with each other.”
The Children’s Care, Learning and Development Apprenticeship framework has been created by employers to enable young people like Katy to gain the specific skills needed by this sector both now and in the future, and combines development of practical ability with theoretical knowledge to reinforce it and establish a foundation for career progression.