Graduate Keeps Gates Shut and Options Open

May, 2018

At the Bee Kids Childcare Centre in Marton, an enormous rabbit lolloping about the back yard is just one of the joys of work for April Gleeson. The appropriately-named ‘Peter’ rabbit is free to roam around throughout the day until he gets tucked into bed each night. Catching him for this purpose is probably April’s biggest daily challenge - but it all adds to the enjoyment of her new role.

In early 2017, April was considering nursing, vet nursing, or childcare as career options. She was looking for a six-month study option when the Working With Children, Level 3 programme at Training For You came up. April started the programme with the mid-year intake and immediately felt that she had chosen the right path. “It was just fun,” she says.

April had done some volunteering in a childcare centre previously, but completing the Working With Children programme gave her the skills and knowledge she needed, “I feel like it was really helpful. Doing the course helped me to understand a lot more, and to learn what kids can learn, and how they learn, and how they develop.”

For the programme’s practical work experience component, April was based at Bee Kids, “It’s a different centre. In most centres, they separate the babies from the older children (the under two’s and the over two’s) but here, they are all together. It’s cool because you get to see the babies learn off the older ones. They are really good role models for the younger ones with their behaviour… (she laughs) usually!”

April graduated from Training For You in December 2017, gaining the National Certificate in Early Childhood Education, Level 3. “My tutor (Michaela Newman) was really awesome, she was really helpful. If I was ever stuck, or the class was ever stuck she would always jump straight to it and help out. She always went out of her way to help us, so that was awesome. She was a good tutor.”

Following her graduation, April secured a permanent role with Bee Kids, as a Teaching Assistant. The centre is registered to care for eight under 2-year olds, and 23 children in all. April works with six other staff members. “I love the staff here, they are all really helpful, and obviously because I am new to early childcare, they understand that I might make a mistake here and there.”

April contacted her tutor at Training For You to share the news of her appointment. Michaela Newman says, “I was delighted, and not at all surprised that April had been offered a role at Bee Kids. During her placement visits she was a wonderful ambassador of Training For You and seemed a natural fit in the teaching team.”

April even has a special connection with one of the clients – her little cousin has just enrolled at the centre so she’s getting the opportunity to care for a family member.

Moving forward, April is looking at continuing her education in the new year. She is currently considering the NZ Diploma in Early Childhood Education & Care, Level 5 as online study alongside her work. However she is in a good position to look at a range of study possibilities, “I’ve got a lot of options,” says the 20-year-old, “I like to think that I’m still young so if I choose to go into vet nursing I can still do that.” For the meantime, her advice to anyone considering a programme of study in early childcare is this, “Make sure you have patience,” she says with a smile. “And if you’re really sure about it, just do it. Life is short.”