Local nursery staff upskill with Bury College Apprenticeships

Two dedicated apprentices working in a local nursery are proving that it’s never too late to upskill and grow professionally, thanks to the Early Years Level 5 Apprenticeship offered at Bury College.

Kirsty Pilkington and Lauren Beecroft, both long-standing employees at Hoyle Nursery School in Bury, recently decided to take on a Bury College apprenticeship. Whilst they each had slightly different motivations for doing so, they shared the same main goal: to enhance their knowledge and better support their colleagues.

Returning to learning

Lauren, an already qualified Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA), started the Early Years Level 5 apprenticeship to deepen her understanding of early years practice.

“I’m already a HLTA but I wanted to do something at a higher level. The apprenticeship fits in with work and is manageable. It’s allowing me to support my colleagues more”.

After being in the workplace for 20 years, getting back into completing assignments felt like a bit of a challenge, but Lauren quickly overcame it. In fact, she’s now considering further study!

“I hadn’t done assignments since school, so completing them was hard but refreshing. Maybe I’ll do more qualifications when I’ve finished my apprenticeship!”

A supportive environment

Lauren’s colleague and fellow apprentice, Kirsty, shared her reasons for doing the apprenticeship. She too has worked at Hoyle Nursery School for many years and felt like now was the right time to take the next step in her professional journey.

“I want to begin to lead the room that I currently work in. The apprenticeship will help me build my skills so that I can do this.”

Both are enjoying the support they are receiving as a Bury College apprentice.

“College staff are easy to talk to”, says Kirsty. “They are always happy to answer questions and if you do struggle, you’ve always got support.”

Want to progress in your career?

Lauren and Kirsty’s journeys are a testament to the idea that learning never ends and it’s never too late to progress in your career.

To follow in their footsteps, or help your staff do so, learn more about Bury College’s apprenticeship programmes. They are available in a wide range of dynamic sectors including childcare, teaching, accounting and more.