Digi-guide - Childcare

Fun activities for all

Pond play

Level 3 students enjoyed a day out at a local nature reserve. They had a go at pond dipping, team building activities, and took part in a nature trail. These activities aim to help students have a good understanding of how to plan and support trips for young children.

All hands on deck!

The students get involved in creative play including painting, playdough, small world play and collage. This helps students to understand the benefits of play for young children and how to set up and support activities within a school or nursery.

Emma SandersPlacement at Cherubs Day Nursery, Kimberley

Emma Sanders completed the Level 2 Diploma in Caring for Children, part of which involves spending time on placement at a local nursery in Kimberley. Read more about Emma’s college journey, and how the practical experiences on her course have led to many different opportunities.

Caring students hand cash boost to children’s activities

Charities and organisations that support sick children and youngsters with special needs have received a bumper cash boost from kind-hearted students at West Nottinghamshire College.

A total of £665 has been raised for King’s Mill Hospital’s children’s ward, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Autism East Midlands, Make a Wish Foundation UK, and When You Wish Upon a Star by almost 40 students on the Level 3 Extended Diploma for the Children’s and Young People’s Workforce course.

It came after they undertook a challenge in the style of hit television series The Apprentice. Dividing into five teams, each led by a project manager, students were tasked with devising imaginative ways of raising money for their chosen charities.

The project formed part of the course’s leadership and management unit, aimed at developing students’ teamwork, organisational and communication skills, while putting their English and maths to the test.

Nineteen-year-olds Georgia Whitaker and Alice Allwood took on the roles of Lord Sugar’s adviser Karren Brady and former sidekick Nick Hewer, with the team that raised the most being declared the winner.

The three-week challenge culminated in a fundraising day at the Derby Road campus featuring a table tennis tournament, sponsored silence, guess the name of the teddy bear competition, raffle, bingo, sales of cakes, biscuits and sweets, non-alcoholic cocktails served in college restaurant Refined, plus collection buckets.

Winning team was ‘Believe’ – made up of Melissa Haynes, Kursty Tait, Shannon Pickering, Charlotte Hough, Andrew Morrison, Ellena Ashley and Gemma Tilley – which raised £213 for Nottingham-based When You Wish Upon a Star, which grants the wishes of terminally-ill children.

Students handed bumper cheques to representatives of some of the charities on 15 May 2015 after giving a presentation about what they had learned from the project. Each student received a certificate of achievement from deputy principal Patricia Harman.

Georgia, from Warsop, said: “Leading the project was challenging but really enjoyable. It feels amazing to know the money could help change somebody’s life for the better.”

Alice, from Hucknall, said: “Everyone has worked so hard, which is reflected in the amount raised. It’s surpassed all of our expectations.”

Emma Sanders - Placement at Cherubs Day Nursery

Describe a typical day on placement…

The day starts with register and story time and then on to nappy changing (which I am able to do as I have the appropriate DBS checks through college). We then plan and carry out various activities with the children as well as do our observations – which are an essential part of the course.

We also get to take the children out on days out – to the park and to feed the horses. It’s really rewarding.

What opportunities have college and your placement opened up to you?

Placements are important as they give you the opportunity to build up practical experiences alongside your college studies. I’ve had various opportunities to work with different age groups – babies, toddlers and pre-school children – giving me experience in working from the curriculum for different age groups.

College gives you plenty of opportunities: alongside your course you can study towards your GCSEs, enrichment, volunteering and placements. Placements also provide good experience for apprenticeships – if that’s the path you wish to take.

Why did you choose childcare as a career option?

I was originally unsure about what career I wanted to go into. I had always wanted to do midwifery – but decided to study childcare initially as I would be able to do this as a job part-time if I chose to go on to university.

After you’ve studied Higher Education in childcare – the job opportunities are great. You could choose to go work with children with SEN (Special Educational Needs), go into teaching or even become a nursery manager with the right training.

What have you enjoyed the most about college?

It’s so different to school. You can wear your own clothes (no uniform!), and can have a laugh with your tutors, too. At college you’re treated like an adult, you have the opportunity to make sure friends, and the support you receive is great. But most of all, it’s great fun!