Turning dreams into reality with Realise apprenticeships

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Meet Ryan Hughes, an Apprentice Early Years Practitioner at Haxey Pre-School CIO, Lincolnshire. Ryan’s journey is an inspiring tale of determination and passion for early years.

A childhood dream realised

For Ryan, the dream of working with children ignited at an early age when he became an uncle at just 5 years old. This pivotal moment kindled a passion that remained steadfast as he grew older. In his own words, “I now have six nephews and one niece, and helping them achieve their milestones has been incredibly motivational and rewarding.”

Laura Kirk, Manager at Haxey Pre-School CIO, adds: “When Ryan interviewed to become an apprentice in our setting, his enthusiasm and passion for supporting younger children was wonderful. It was evident that a career working with young children was his dream and we were so pleased to be the first step of his journey.”

Ambitious goals

“My initial goal was to stay in early years and become a manager one day,” Ryan states.

“My dream now is to gain my full degree, work my way yo to room leader, deputy, manager and eventually, open my own nursery.”

A journey of milestones

Ryan’s apprenticeship journey has been marked by significant growth and noteworthy achievements. He has been instrumental in supporting children who needed help with speech and language development, a task requiring immense patience and dedication.

One moment that stands out in his success is engaging with a child on a 1:1 basis. “I was involved in an activity, and this was a significant area of focus for the child,” Ryan recalls. “They laughed, sat down for a few minutes and eagerly tried to mimic sounds. This was a huge achievement, especially considering they hasn’t attempted it in three months. It felt amazing!”

In addition to these professional milestones, Ryan has achieved personal triumphs such as completing his first assignment, gaining his first ‘key child’, and successfully navigating his first assessment.

Expanding responsibilities

Over time, Ryan’s role at the nursery has evolved and he has taken on more responsibilities. These include completing 2-year checks, guiding children through transitions, and ensuring they meet their next developmental milestones.

Laura adds: “Ryan’s confidence in his role has grown immensely since he started with us, and Ryan is now an integral part of our staffing team. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for him.”

Impacting projects

Ryan has enjoyed working on various projects, including those related to health and safety, special educational needs (SEN) and child development. These experiences have greatly enriched his role.

He also finds tremendous fulfilment in witnessing the children graduate before moving on to primary school, appreciating the significant growth that they have achieved during their time at nursery.

Support and challenges

Throughout his apprenticeship, Ryan received invaluable support through regular communication via email, face-to-face interactions and monthly visits. While facing challenges initially in fulfilling the off-the-job hours, he overcame them with the assistance of his employer.

“I struggled to figure out what to add, but my employer was a great help. We sat down and discussed all the ways I continuously support the children and how to document these as off-the-job hours,” he said.

Personal and professional growth

Ryan’s confidence has soared, and he has amassed a wealth of knowledge and skills.

“One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is how to support children in a variety of ways and communicate these their parents or carers,” Ryan reflects.

He particularly enjoyed assignments related to health and safety, SEN and child development, as they significantly contributed to his professional development.

A heartfelt passion for early years

For Ryan, the most fulfilling aspect is actively engaging with children and watching them thrive.

Whether it’s seeing children flourish in the activities he sets up or witnessing their growth throughout their time at nursery, he knows he’s playing a pivotal role.

A heartfelt passion for early years

For Ryan, the most fulfilling aspect is actively engaging with children and watching them thrive.

Whether it’s seeing children flourish in the activities he sets up or witnessing their growth throughout their time at nursery, he knows he’s playing a pivotal role.

Impressed trainer assessor

Rachael Henderson, Ryan’s Trainer Assessor at Realise, shares her perspective on his journey.

“I’ve been thoroughly impressed with Ryan’s unwavering dedication and hard work. He is a shining example of the positive impact that men can have in the early years sector and his passion for early years education is truly inspiring.”

Advice for future apprentices

Ryan’s advice to future apprentices in early years is simple and powerful: “Be yourself, be confident and engage with the children. Acknowledge the feedback and learn from it. Support the children in following their interests.”

Final thoughts and gratitude

In wrapping up his story, Ryan expressed heartfelt gratitude for the support he’s received. He emphasised the crucial role of Rachel Henderson, Trainer Assessor, in his apprenticeship journey, thanking her for her unwavering support.

Ryan’s passion and dedication are an inspiration, and we wish him all the best in achieving his goals. We know he will continue to make a positive impact on the lives of the children he works with.

Let’s talk

If you would like to follow in Ryan’s footsteps and make your dreams come true, reach out about our early years apprenticeships.

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