Danielle Brown

my story

I was always interested in looking after children and wanted to make this my future career path but wasn’t really sure how to take the next step to get the right qualifications. Then during my last year of school I was invited to attend an Apprenticeship Jobs Fair and got the opportunity to chat to childcare employers who were there about available roles and what to do next. Until this point I wasn’t really aware of the Modern Apprenticeship scheme and how this differed, from going to college, as a route to getting the necessary childcare qualifications.

I was really excited to hear that as a Modern Apprentice, I would get so many benefits. Not only would I get to learn on the job, whilst on placement in a nursery, but I would also get paid at the same time and be able to attend college on day release to study for the necessary qualifications. This approach really appealed to me and so whilst still at school I registered with the Glasgow Guarantee to seek a childcare apprenticeship.

After applying for several childcare MA roles, the nerves set in when I secured an interview with ACE Place Nursery – this was my first ever interview since leaving school! However, I shouldn’t have worried though as the help and support I had received from the Glasgow Guarantee Team to get ready for the interview, along with the background research I did meant the interview went really well and was a success. My new employers helped put me at ease straight away.

making a difference

As part of my two year Modern Apprenticeship placement I work with younger children and also help provide afterschool care for primary age children. I have a mentor, a senior childcare supervisor, who supports me in my daily tasks to help care for the children and who I can go to with any queries I have. I am really enjoying seeing the children learn each day and being able to be a part of their development – it is honestly such a rewarding job seeing children’s faces light up as they learn and excel at something new.

One day a week, I attend a classroom training session to work towards my SVQ level 3 in Childcare. It is so great to be able to apply what you are actually learning on the job into a classroom and also my coursework.

be part of it

My Modern Apprenticeship has been a great way for me to benefit from real hands on experience which I am able to take back into the classroom and further learn from it. Being able to earn a wage whilst learning is just the best feeling ever and I think that some of my friends at full time college are slightly envious that I am getting the best of both worlds and am not stuck in a classroom each day!  My confidence has increased greatly being part of a working team – my colleagues are all so nice and I am really looking forward to a long future career in childcare. I would tell anyone to just go for it – the Glasgow Guarantee is helping me to follow my career dreams.