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You wouldn’t trade this learning for anything |
[02-02-2010] |
Want to know the value of apprentices? Then ask the families of the children Jordan Turton works with at a West Yorkshire nursery school.
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The 17-year-old Dewsbury trainee sets up and delivers activities for children in the reception and nursery classes at the Scholes Nursery School in Cleckheaton. And by building up strong bonds with his young charges, Jordan admits that every achievement he sees is, “so rewarding.”
Along with a female car mechanic in Bradford, two lady bricklayers based in Bury and Workington and Rathbone’s first youth work apprentices in London and Manchester, Jordan is being celebrated as part of National Apprenticeship Week. Organised by the National Apprenticeship Service, this annual drive salutes the talents and skills of apprentices and reminds businesses of the value of work-based learning.
Although he recognises that child care is a predominantly female profession – recent research showed there were only two young male nursery nurses in state schools in the entire country* – Jordan hasn’t let prejudice put him off. His colleagues on his Level 3 course at Rathbone Dewsbury are right behind him and want to see more males involved in child care. Seventeen-year-old Rachel Armstrong reckons Jordan is, “getting rid of stereotypes and being a good role model to children – especially when they don’t have a dad around.” Having a male in her class doesn’t bother Lucy Hemming (18) either! “Jordan just wants to look after children, the same as me” she said.
Jordan, who often babysits for his cousins, gets strong support from his family and friends. “From the minute he arrived at Rathbone, Jordan was determined to find full-time employment” said his tutor, Lucy Leeming. “He is not only improving his career chances through his hard work but is also introducing children to the idea that men can be gentle and caring and can play a positive role in bringing children up.”
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