Emily Davis, the Nursery Manager at Abacus Day Nursery, has been a strong advocate for apprenticeships, recognising their value in developing skilled professionals in the early years sector. Through a partnership with Newbury College, Emily has successfully integrated apprentices into her team, fostering a nurturing environment where aspiring childcare professionals can thrive.
Abacus Day Nursery collaborates closely with Newbury College to offer apprenticeship opportunities, ensuring that students receive quality training while remaining in their local area. Emily highlights the convenience and efficiency of this collaboration, explaining that the close-knit relationship allows apprentices to gain real-world experience while benefiting from the structured learning provided by the college.
At Abacus Day Nursery, apprentices gain experience across different age groups, from three months old to school age. Emily emphasises the importance of learning through doing:
“They get hands-on experience rather than just sitting there, and they get the kinaesthetic approach to their learning.”
By rotating through various rooms and working directly with children, apprentices develop a well-rounded skill set that prepares them for long-term careers in childcare.
One of Emily’s key motivations for investing in apprenticeships is the opportunity to train and retain skilled staff who align with the nursery’s ethos. Over her six years as manager, she has seen multiple apprentices progress into full-time roles:
“Regarding full-time roles from Newbury College, I’ve had four students since I’ve been manager here. One did their Level 2 apprenticeship, gained the whole qualification, and then transitioned to a school because she liked the older children. Another completed both Level 2 and Level 3 and now has a full-time job with us. Currently, I’ve got two apprentices, one doing Level 2 and one doing Level 3, and as apprentices, they’ve already got full-time jobs with us.”
This approach not only supports the apprentices’ career development but also ensures that the nursery benefits from a workforce that is well-trained, experienced, and familiar with the organisation’s values and methods.
Emily strongly encourages other businesses to consider apprenticeship programmes as a way to build a skilled and dedicated team. She highlights the advantage of developing talent in-house:
“What I would say to other businesses considering partnership is that apprentices get to know you and the business you work in, so you’ve already moulded them into what your business needs. They’ve learned from all of your staff, so they come in with new ideas.”
By embedding apprenticeships into recruitment and training strategies, businesses can cultivate a pipeline of talent while providing meaningful career opportunities.
Through her commitment to apprenticeships, Emily Davis is not only shaping the future of Abacus Day Nursery but also playing a crucial role in developing skilled early years professionals. Her work demonstrates how apprenticeships benefit both individuals and businesses, creating a workforce that is experienced, motivated, and ready to make a difference in the childcare sector.