Keyleigh was one of our learners who did our Level 2 Early Years Practitioner Apprenticeship and Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship. From leaving college with a hope to change her career plan, to struggling with her first pregnancy whilst on programme, Keyleigh's journey was not easy. However, she perserved, achieved her qualifications and even went on to go to University! She describes here experience as "amazing, I have recommended Swift to anyone who wants to go into childcare." Have a look below to read more of what we discussed.

What were you doing before Swift?

A beauty therapy course as I wanted to become a beautician. Straight after school, when I got my GCSE’s I went straight to UCB to do my level 2 beauty therapy and I did it I got my certificate but it just wasn’t for me.

What struggles did you face? And how did you overcome these?

I didn’t really struggle as it was a very last minute decision because I knew I didn’t want to go back to college and do my level 3. I was working a job and I was so into getting money I didn’t want to go back into college and get no money. My friend was actually doing an apprenticeship with Swift so she got me all the details and then I came in and everyone gave me all the details and did an interview and that’s how I got on. I didn’t find it difficult to get onto it, it was very easy.

How was your process with swift to get you into an apprenticeship?

Smooth. It was quite a few years ago now but all I remember it was very quick. Swift found me my apprenticeship cause I couldn’t find one so they liaised with the nursery I worked with and got me an interview there. It was my first interview and I got it. Peter supported me to get the role in a nursery. Jack and Jemma taught me within the sessions.

Why did you want to do an apprenticeship instead of University or further education?

At first university wasn’t an option; I didn’t want to study, I’m not very good at studying, I’m not good at the exam process. University wasn’t for me and A levels was the same it’s just sitting back at school I didn’t want to do that. So for me an apprenticeship, you work while you learn it was the best outcome.

I did end up going to university. I passed my level 2 then did my level 3, I found out I was pregnant when I got onto my level 3. So Swift liaised with me on this, told me what I could do, told me to not give up and carry on so I did it. I took a few months off to have my son, went back. Because I went through a lot being pregnant with my mental health so I wanted to something related to this. At first I wanted to do midwifery but then I found a course which was Child and Adolescence mental health which was a foundation degree (2 years) and I thought yeah that’s great it was the lowest UCAS points so I worked out as long as I got my level 3 I could get onto that. Swift helped me to fill out all the forms for university to get through clearing as I had to be very fast with this because I finished in August and I needed to have applied by August for clearing.

Where did you find out about Swift?

I found out about Swift through a friend as Swift have a ‘refer a friend’ scheme. My friend was doing the level 2 and starting level her 3.

Did you feel supported in your apprenticeship with Swift?

Yes, 110% they’re just absolutely amazing. Jack taught us and Jemma was there for support when we needed help with assessments. Whenever I need help at Swift, Jack was there to help and we had to do ICT and functional skills so Jack was always there and Jemma would answer emails all the time, when I was doing my work. They were just amazing.

Would you recommend this apprenticeship to someone else?

Definitely the support you get and I know a lot of a young people like my brother goes to college and hates it. With Swift you get to learn while you earn so young people are earning money. The support you get is there and in college you do not get this support.

How did an apprenticeship benefit you?

Well I was working so gaining experience, even if you just do the one year. If Swift weren’t here for an apprenticeship I would’ve still been working and not be in college. I did it with Swift so I was earning while I working. I was young so all I wanted to do was make money and earn.

Would you say an apprenticeship helped you progress/start your career?

Oh yeah, it made me realise that this is what I wanted to go into but not just here so this allowed me to extend myself. Not in a million years, none of my family years would ever think I would go to university but Swift allowed me to do that.

Is there a particular part of your apprenticeship that you think helped you develop?

There’s not a specific part, I think all of the modules merged together and everything that helped me to develop. Such as what you have to do for your write ups, do the activities, being assessed in the nursery. It’s the whole process that help me to develop more as a person. Even though, now I’m working in a secondary school I still have to liaise with parents, in a nursery I was taught how to do this.  

What advice would you give to others?

Never give up, you can always do it with support around you and I’ve been through it twice!

What are you doing now?

Im an attendance assistant in a secondary school. So I need to find out why students are late, chasing around the school to find out why students are not marked in their lessons but are in school so it’s a lot of chasing teachers. I have to liaise with parents, social workers to try and get our school refusers back into school. I do home visits as well when student’s attendance is low. It is a lot of working with parents, kids and social workers.

I do enjoy this and it is a stepping stone for me to become a pastoral manager, so this will give me the ability to work my way up. I didn’t take the ‘proper route’ as people would say to get where I wanted to be.

Do you think the apprenticeship has helped you achieve your career goal?

I do want to go work at a youth offenders’ institution, that is my goal for when my kids are older. For now my career goal is to work in schools pastorally to help children. I was a school refuser, I hated school and just about got my GCSE’s so I know that I can relate to children so my goal is to help them and their mental health. Kid’s mental health is really bad lately, I am very focused on mental health. I want to find out why kids aren’t in school if they’re facing any struggles safeguarding wise.

Do you think the apprenticeship has helped you to develop and work towards your career goal?

Definitely, it is a good place to start if you know you want to work with kids but not sure where. This is the best place to start at Swift. It gives you that experience and then you also get your qualifications at the end of it, so then you can take yourself further.

Like what you see? Find out how you can do the same by applying to our live vacancies near you or get in touch to see how we can help:

London: sb@swiftcc.co.uk 0203 475 3036

Birmingham: al@swiftcc.co.uk 0121 594 0459