SUCCESS STORY
My story for childcare started when I was 17, I had just left school and the world was my oyster. Not knowing what to do I decided to take a trip to my local careers centre and get some help and advice. I had some GCSEs but not the best results and was keen to learn more to build my knowledge. I always had a passion for teaching but I did not have the grades or any ideas where to start. I had a short meeting with an adviser and before I knew it I was enrolled with a training provider for a NVQ level 2 in childcare.
Starting in the nursery was an interesting experience. I remember many people saying, 'You don't get many men in childcare' and people would constantly ask, 'Is it strange being the only male in the setting?' All I would say is that I love my job and it makes no difference being male.
The job was so rewarding and I had so much praise for what I was doing. I went home each day thinking how I was making a difference to the children while being valued for my hard work.
After completing my level 2 I applied for a position within a children's centre where I completed my level 3, which changed my life forever. I learnt so many of the basic skills that I missed at school and developed my practice to an outstanding level. Every day I would go to work and have the most amazing time.
Following the children's interests we built weather stations, garden centres and other wild and amazing roleplay centres where my imagination was able to run wild. For me this was just the tip of the iceberg. While working alongside qualified teachers I learnt how to correctly write reports and check for grammar and spelling as well as build my knowledge of teaching.
After completing my level 3 I decided I wanted to continue training so enrolled myself on to a teaching course. The course was very short but I was able to test my new skills that I had learnt and realised how much I had picked up from working alongside teaching staff.
I now have a teaching qualification at level 4 along with my childcare qualifications and a large selection of courses that I have done during my training. From this I applied for a deputy manager position and to my amazement was offered the job. Here I was able to run a large nursery and learn many new skills regarding management and the business side of a nursery. Then I was offered the opportunity to take a short course in assessing for childcare, from which I was offered a job by a training provider where I taught childcare courses and NVQ levels 2, 3 and 4.
Childcare has so many opportunities waiting for anybody with ambition. I now work for N&B Training and I am making a difference to learners and nursery settings across the South East.
Anyone can do what I have done. It has been hard work but the whole time I have loved it.
Andrew Barber, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
CHILDMINDER CLARITY
I should clarify Richard Brinton, Wendy Ellyatt and Graham Kennish's creative interpretation of comments attributed to me in Nursery World (Letters, 30 July).
I do not 'buy wholesale into the earlier is better mentality'. The National Childminding Association (NCMA) has challenged the idea of extending a free early education offer to all two-year-olds.
My comments about childminders achieving 'good outcomes' related to Ofsted data which suggests that childminders are faring as well as nurseries under EYFS. This is not indicative of me having 'bought into the audit culture imposed on early years'.
My comments regarding distinctions between 'care' and 'education' stem from a misconception of childminders solely as 'carers'.
As childminders and parents know, there is a wealth of play-based learning on offer in home-based settings, and a growing number of childminders deliver the three- and four-year-old entitlement as part of accredited networks. We want to see them supported as equal but different to other forms of childcare. As far as I am aware, this is the policy of all the main political parties too.
Andrew Fletcher, joint chief executive, NCMA Send your letters to ... The Editor, Nursery World, 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP, letter.nw@haymarket.com, 020 8267 8401
