Early Years Skills Bootcamp

Skills Bootcamp -  Pinecones Nursery School

Our Skills Bootcamp, Early Years is a short but compelling course designed to help you boost your skills, land a job, and start making money sooner.

We've teamed up with top employers and local authorities to create this program. When you finish, you'll have a fast track to our Accelerated Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship, cutting down your learning time by up to six months and getting you into your dream job faster. We’ll also provide you with a full and relevant Paediatric First Aid certificate, Makaton and Early Talk Boost training so you’ll be ready to dive straight in.

And the best part? It's completely free, and we'll even assist you with your DBS application! Don't let this amazing chance to acquire valuable skills, accelerate your career, and create a meaningful difference in the lives of young children slip away. Reserve your place today!

ABOUT THE BOOTCAMP

Aspire Training Team are proud to offer an 8 week programme consisting of live online group learning, 1-1 support from a dedicated team of Trainers, weekly placement with a local Early Years setting, Level 1 Makaton training by our experienced Trainer, support with your DBS application and a full and relevant Paediatric First Aid certificate.

Over the course of 8 weeks you will take part in fun learning sessions designed to provide you with an introduction to childcare and help you to understand more about how children learn and develop. You will spend one day a week on a placement with a local Nursery where you get the opportunity to test your practical skills and begin to form relationships with what will hopefully become the setting for your accelerated Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship.

All taught sessions will be online, and you will need to attend an in-person First Aid training day at one of our locations.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Absolutely free to join: As long as you're 19 or older and meet our criteria, there are no fees whatsoever. And if you advance to our accelerated Level 3 apprenticeship, there's no cost there either.
• Fast-track your journey: This Skills Bootcamp provides a direct route to our accelerated Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship, saving you up to six months of learning time.
• Topics covered: Introduction to childcare, promoting healthy lifestyles through exercise, Safeguarding and Health & Safety legislations and guidance, supporting Equality Diversity and Inclusion, an introduction to theorists and philosophical approaches to how children learn and develop, and their influence on practice, plus how to support children transition to school including phonics – Letters and Sounds.
• CPD Certifications: We offer you the opportunity to complete online courses to support your continuing professional development in Food Hygiene and Food Allergens. You will also complete Level 1 Makaton training.
• Secure your paediatric first aid certification, crucial for Early Years work. Aspire Training Team will cover the expenses for this.
• Assistance with your DBS application: We'll take care of the costs and paperwork for your DBS application, allowing you to concentrate on your studies.
• Tailored assistance: Enjoy personalised support and guidance throughout your course, ensuring you have all the resources and help you need to excel. We will also support by helping with CV-writing and mock-interviews to help you practice and prepare.

ABOUT YOU

All participants are required to undergo a mandatory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS). Upon enrolment, our team will contact you to arrange this process. Not completing an enhanced DBS check could impact your eligibility to secure a position in an Early Years setting.

Applicants must have at least a Level 2 qualification in English and Maths (equivalent to a GCSE grade C/GCSE grade 4), although we do accept those with a Level 1 qualification (GCSE grade D/GCSE grade 3). However, applicants with a Level 1 qualification in English and Maths must be open to completing a Level 2 Functional Skills qualification as part of the Early Years Educator apprenticeship.

Prior to enrolment, learners will be requested to provide certificates as evidence of their English and Maths proficiency level.

The Skills Bootcamp is open for learners living in Devon and Cornwall only due to the funding offer from the Local Authorities.

Access to an internet connection, a laptop or computer with microphone and camera function are required. The ability to travel to/from a local Early Years setting, as well as to one of the three locations for the First Aid training is essential.

*After you have completed this 8 week course, you will head into your accelerated Apprenticeship, where you will complete the remaining 12 months of your Apprenticeship at Pinecones Nursery School*

At Pinecones Nursery School, each child is given the opportunity to explore their environment inside and out throughout the year, whilst being supported by skilled staff to extend their play. Every child is unique and we believe it is essential to get into the child's world in order to get to know them and successfully support them in their development. If we notice something your child is finding challenging, we will focus on supporting them in order to give them the best chance at succeeding.

We have a qualified Forest school leader, we support all children including the youngest to take risks without being put at risk. Children thrive in our child-led outdoor environment, growing vegetables, planting flowers, digging, bug hunting and den building!

We have also been developing our vegetable patch with food we are hoping to use in our home cooked meals. We currently offer meals twice a week, the children are part of the food preparation to develop their knowledge and skills.

We pride ourselves in taking time to get to know families and involving them in all aspects of your child's time at nursery; overcoming challenges, celebrating achievements and growing together. Our environment is an extension of home and fully child focused.

You will see updates about your child's play through Learning Journals and we encourage families to share experiences from home.

Your roles and responsivities as an Apprentice working towards your level 3 will be;

• To contribute to the smooth running of the setting following children’s interests to plan daily activities.
• To use an online program to keep a proper record of achievement file on key children, for parents/carers that will link to EYFS.
• Work alongside parents/carers to provide full integration in the setting.
• Uphold standards within the setting by adhering to all policies and procedures.
• Strive to safeguard children by working to the organisation’s safeguarding Code of Conduct.
• Liaise with and support parents/carers and other family members.
• To be flexible within working practices of the setting. Be prepared to help where needed, including to undertake certain domestic jobs within the setting, e.g. preparation of snack meals, cleansing of equipment, setting up and clearing away activities.
• Maintain accurate record keeping.
• Look upon the setting as a "whole", be constantly aware of the needs of children. Where can you help be most utilised?
• Ensure child is collected by someone known to the setting.
• To respect the confidentiality of information received.
• To develop your role within the team especially regarding a key worker.

Specific Child Care Tasks:

• The preparation and completion of activities to suit the child's stage of development.
• To ensure that mealtimes are a time of pleasant social sharing.
• Washing and changing children as required.
• Providing comfort and warmth to an ill child until their parent arrives.
• To ensure the setting is a high-quality environment to meet the needs of individual children from differing cultures and religious backgrounds, and stages of development.
• To be aware of the high profile of the setting and to uphold its standards at all times.
• To actively promote and support the safeguarding of children and young people in the workplace, ensuring the setting’s policies and procedures are observed at all times.
• Tidying away of activities and cleaning of the setting at the end of the day.

Person specification

• Skills, aptitude, knowledge and experience
• Enthusiasm for working with young children
• An interest in the care, learning and development of young children
• A commitment to the provision of high-quality childcare
• A positive approach to learning and gaining new skills through teamwork and training opportunities
• Ability to work independently using own initiative
• Previous experience of caring for, or working with children in a voluntary or paid capacity
• An understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage
• An interest in forest school and outdoor education.
• Experience of working with children with SEND

Personal qualities

• Good organisational, record keeping and planning skills
• Punctuality
• Excellent communication skills, with children, colleagues, advisors and parents/carers.
• Good written, verbal and non-verbal communication
• Patience
• Reliability and trustworthiness
• A positive approach to inclusive practice with children and colleagues
• Proactive and positive team player, able to work constructively as part of a team to understand roles and responsibilities within the setting and own position within these
• Flexibility – occasionally working hours might be changed, e.g. if the setting hosts a Parents’ Evening

Hours 

• You will required to work a minimum of 25 hours per week with shift patterns to be discussed between the settings openings times of 08:00-17:00 Monday- Friday

Requirements;

• To obtain a clear DBS 
• GCSE’s A*-C/4+ in English Language and Maths, or equivalent i.e. functional skills

Benefits;

• Free Parking
• Social Events
• Treats and Sweets 

• Free Parking
• Social Events
• Treats and Sweets