Parenta training.
- How do you feel about reaching your 20th year in childcare?
It's a lovely milestone in my life. Early years is the only place I've ever worked. I qualified with my NNEB when I was 18 and I was told I was the first male student in London to do so. I knew I wanted to work with children with disabilities, and one of my jobs was working for charity Kids as a special needs support worker. I went on to set up fathers' groups in Surestart centres at a time when there wasn't a lot going on for fathers in childcare.
- Why did you decide to move in to training?
I've always enjoyed sharing my experience with people, and I suddenly realised just how long I had been working with children. I do miss the face-to-face nature of working in a nursery but I do get to go back sometimes as an assessor and for CPD courses
- What is your plan for your next 20 years?
I think I'll always be involved in the early years, but probably in training. Ideally I'd like to set up a training centre for men to get them up to at least Level 2, even if it's mainly parents rather than practitioners. I just want to get more men involved with childcare.
