As part of National Apprenticeship week, we asked some of our learners what a typical day in their life looks like.

This is just a few answers we received!

Day in the life of a swift childcare apprentice

Breakfast - At breakfast time, I feed the baby Weetabix. We mix the Weetabix with milk and mash it up so that its safe for the baby to eat.

Morning session - In the morning, we do a planned activity that is suitable for ages 0-18 months, such as yoghurt painting. Then the youngest baby will have a nap before lunch.

Lunch - At lunch time, we put the babies in their high chairs, put bibs on them and mash up the babies food to prevent them chocking. We then give them pudding and clean them up.

Afternoon session - The afternoon session is getting the babies to sleep. We put a colourful night light on to help settle them. We then rock them to sleep.

Tea - At tea time, we put the babies in their high chairs and mash their food and feed them and then clean them up.

- Holly Level 2 Childcare apprentice

Breakfast - I always get to work 20 minutes before I start working. At 9 to 9:30, we do free play with the children. After they play, we tidy up the toys they play with. Once we are done tidying up, we wash our hands.

Morning session - After snack time, we do 25 minutes of outdoor play/indoor play. After 10:45, we do nappy changes and tidying up time. At 11:00, we do story time/handwashing.

Lunch - At 11:15, the children have their lunch for 30 minutes. After lunch, some children go to sleep and some children go outdoors to play. At 12:15, I take my lunch break which is for 30 minutes. I come back to my room and support/play with the children.

Afternoon - At 1:30 pm we change their nappies again and wash out hands. At 2pm, we have a snack and 2:30 tidy up. 3:00 is outdoor play and tea is at 3:30 – 4:00. I encourage the children to wash their hands and have their tea. 4:00 till 4:£0 is either free play/story time and then 4:30 till 4:45 is nappy changing time once again.

Tea - 4:45 till 6pm is then free play or home time.

- Hannah Level 2 Childcare apprentice

Breakfast - At breakfast we take the children to have something to eat, each group of children have different times for breakfast. My group, pre-school has breakfast at 7:00 am.

Morning session - In the morning, we usually read them stories and ask them questions about it. We then let them play for a bit and then take them for a snack.

Lunch - At lunch we try to include as many healthy options as possible that will keep the child full for a period of time. We also make a variety of dishes for those who have allergies or simply don’t like the food.

Afternoon session - In the afternoon, we usually make the children practise writing their name and then take them outside.

Tea - At tea, we make them wash their hands as they were outside. Then we sing some songs before giving them something small to eat, such as a biscuit.

- Sara Level 2 Childcare apprentice

Breakfast - We gather all the children and sit them down at the table. Give them different breakfast options, toast/cereal whilst setting up the activities for those who have finished.

Morning session - We normally do a messy play activity, painting/chalking then tidy up and get ready for garden time. We let the children have free play till 11:00, lunch time.

Lunch - We get the children to come inside, wash their hands and take their coats off. We have circle time whilst other members of staff set up lunch. Whilst the children are eating their lunch, we set up the beds for them to sleep.

Afternoon session – We wake the children up from sleep time. At 2:00pm we have free play until 2:45, then we tidy up for circle time and normally read a story.

Tea – After circle time, we set up tea, we eat tea and pudding until 3:30 pm. Then we tidy up for TV and garden time.

- Aminah Level 2 Childcare apprentice

Pre - school

Breakfast – 7:30 am, the children start to arrive, if they need breakfast they can choose what cereal they want and also have some toast and water. We then take the preschool upstairs.

Morning session – by 8:45 am, we split pre-school into groups and split the room. One half do water play/sand play/playdough making and painting/puzzles. The other half play in the other corner.

Lunch -  while setting up for lunch at 11am, we do circle time where we have adult led activities. We wash the children’s hands and get the, seated. Pre school do their own self-serve with food/water.

Afternoon session –  Children go in the garden to burn their energy, we encourage them to play garden games as a group.

Tea –  We do group story time while setting up for tea. We tell them to go to the toilet if needed and then wash their hands after and then get them seated and self serve.

- Elli-Mai Level 2 Childcare apprentice

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