KIDS Planet founder and CEO Clare Roberts stepped into the shoes of an apprentice to experience what it would be like on a first day at a Prep school.
Clare was treated as an apprentice would on their very first day, undertaking a full induction and show round, training with tutor and risk assessments, plus time in the room both with the prep-school children including play and meal-time.
Clare donned a Kids Planet practitioner uniform and took the chance to hit the ground running as another team member within the nursery setting. Situated at the Knutsford site is the Kids Planet Training Academy, where Clare was able to have a one-on-one session with Tutor Nathalie Glaze and refresh her knowledge.
It proved to be a beneficial learning experience and a great reminder of the wonderful work the teams and apprentices do daily.
Clare said: “It was a wonderful experience to walk in the shoes of one of our new colleagues to Kids Planet and to experience first-hand our induction process for an apprentice and to be part of the teaching and learning sessions delivered by the training academy. I had a wonderful day and really enjoyed spending time with the team and children at our Knutsford setting.”
Becca Leigh, Nursery Manager at Kids Allowed Knutsford, said: “We’ve got six apprentices here at Knutsford. They’ve come from lots of different backgrounds, age-ranging from 16 all the way up to 40. Some have come straight from college, and others have done different job roles first.”
One of those apprentices is Samii Johnson, who moved into the profession after being an estate agent. Samii said: “If someone was thinking about joining as an apprentice, I would say to go for it. I’ve come in here at 29 and I’m not going to say I’m old by any means, but I did feel very conscious and I’ve been welcomed with open arms and I feel very comfortable. I think at any age or point in life, it’s a great decision.”
CLARE ON BBC Radio 5 LIVE
Clare also featured on BBC Radio 5 Live during Apprenticeship Week as a guest, discussing the benefits of a multi-generational workforce, with a focus on Generation Z’s impact.
She said: “We are having more of Generation Z coming into the workforce, such as school leavers. Their perceptions and expectations of work have changed, and I think work in general has changed, but we now have a real blend of different generations who work across our nurseries, and I think there are real benefits to that.
For us particularly in an early years sector, the children benefit well from all those different generations as well and those experiences, and there are lot of positives that generation Z have brought to the workforce.”
Do Something Big Campaign
Kids Planet is proud to be supporting the Department for Education’s new major campaign to boost recruitment across the early years sector, and highlighting the vast array of childcare career routes and progression opportunities available.
Clare Roberts, Kids Planet CEO said: “Many parents already recognise how amazing early years and childcare professionals are, but it’s time that everyone else does too, and that the sector is given the recognition and importance it deserves in the valuable job it does to shape future generations.”
