Laura: Hi, I'm Laura.
Tayyiba: And I'm Tayyiba.
Laura: We are nursery workers at Kids Planet Woodside. When I was 18, I started an apprentice[ship]. I've built my way up, obviously developing in different rooms. So I started in pre-school and then I went to toddlers’ room for about a year, and now we're back in pre-school.
The skills that are important whilst working in early years is definitely having the courage to develop every day. So knowing that there may be different stuff that comes up, there may be different stuff that you've not had to do before. New stuff like new learning experiences. Just willing to actually put yourself forward and think, right, this is what I need to learn now.
Tayyiba: Communication is a really big thing as well, and not just the typical communication of how you talk with parents and how you talk with the staff members, but altering your communication to cater to the children's needs as well. You get a bond with both with the child and the parent and talk about how this child is doing, everything they’re learning, the way they’re progressing.
I look back to when I started 3 and a half years ago, and I would have never dreamed that I would have been room senior. Never. I would have literally just thought I was in the corner and I'd be that quiet, shy girl. But I'm not anymore. And that's what this job role does to you. When you’re playing with children, you're so bright and bubbly and it's impossible not to build your confidence up.
To learn about the safeguarding side of things, that's really important. A safe environment where they feel loved and nurtured and they want to be here.
Laura: You’re gaining skills for yourself, not alone just the children. You’re helping supporting parents as well. There's so many stuff that you gain from this job.
