Got your GCSE or college results last week? Whether you got the grades you wanted, did better than expected or things did not quite go to plan, now is the time to start thinking about what comes next.
Results day can feel like a huge moment. For months, you may have been thinking about grades, college places, university applications and what your friends are planning to do.
Then suddenly, the day arrives, the results are opened and everyone starts asking the same question:
“So, what are you doing next?”
A week later, the excitement, disappointment or relief may have started to settle.
Perhaps you have a college place confirmed and everything feels straightforward. Perhaps your results have changed your plans. Or maybe you have realised that you are simply not sure what you want to do yet.
If that sounds familiar, don’t panic.
You do not need to have your entire career mapped out at 16, 17 or 18.
You simply need to find a next step that gives you the opportunity to learn, develop and move towards the kind of future you want.
And if you enjoy working with people, helping others and want a career where you can make a genuine difference, an Early Years apprenticeship could be worth exploring.
Your Results Do Not Decide Your Future
It is easy to feel as though your results have determined what you can and cannot do.
They haven’t.
Your results are important, but they are only one part of your story. Your interests, personality, attitude, skills and willingness to learn all matter too.
Maybe you got the grades you were hoping for. Great.
Maybe you got better grades than expected and suddenly have more options than you thought.
Or perhaps you did not get the results you wanted.
That can be difficult, but it does not mean your future has been decided for you.
There are different routes into careers, and an apprenticeship can be an excellent option for school and college leavers who want to combine employment, training and qualifications.
The UK Government describes an apprenticeship as a combination of practical training in a job and study. Apprentices are employees, earn a wage and receive holiday pay while gaining job specific skills and spending time undertaking training related to their role.
So if you are sitting there a week after results day wondering what your options are, it is worth looking beyond the traditional route.
What If You Still Don’t Know What You Want to Do?
This is probably more common than you think.
There can be a lot of pressure on young people to choose the perfect career almost immediately after leaving school or college.
But your first career decision does not have to determine everything you do for the rest of your life.
Instead, think about what you enjoy.
Do you like being around people?
Do you enjoy helping others?
Would you rather learn by doing something practical than spend most of your time sitting in a classroom?
Do you enjoy being creative?
Are you patient and good at listening?
Do you like seeing other people make progress?
These questions can tell you a lot about the types of careers you might enjoy.
And if several of your answers point towards working with people and helping children develop, Early Years could be a career pathway worth considering.
Why Consider a Career in Early Years?
When people hear the words “childcare career”, they sometimes picture simply looking after young children.
The reality is much broader.
Early Years professionals support children during a hugely important stage of their development, helping them build communication, confidence, independence, social skills and early learning foundations.
You could be planning activities, supporting children’s development, communicating with families, creating learning opportunities, observing progress or helping children develop the skills they will use throughout their lives.
And no two days are exactly the same.
If you enjoy variety, creativity and working with people, that can make Early Years a particularly rewarding career choice.
The official Early Years Careers campaign highlights Level 2 Early Years Practitioner and Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeships as entry routes into the sector, with both suitable for people with no previous Early Years experience.
That means you do not necessarily need years of childcare experience before you can start.
You can learn while you build your career.
Earn While You Learn
One of the biggest reasons school and college leavers choose an apprenticeship is simple:
You earn a salary while gaining your qualification.
Instead of spending your next few years studying full time before entering employment, an apprenticeship allows you to become an employee and start developing workplace experience from day one.
You will work alongside experienced colleagues, learn practical skills and receive dedicated time for training and study.
Government guidance states that apprentices should receive at least 20% of their normal working hours for training and study related to their apprenticeship.
For many young people, this combination of earning, learning and gaining experience is a really attractive alternative to full time education.
It means you are not simply learning about a career.
You are actually starting one.
Level 2 or Level 3 Early Years Apprenticeship: Which Is Right for You?
If you are looking at Early Years apprenticeships, you may have come across both Level 2 Early Years Practitioner and Level 3 Early Years Educator.
So what is the difference?
A Level 2 Early Years Practitioner apprenticeship is an excellent starting point for someone who is new to the sector. It is particularly suitable for many school leavers aged 16 who want to begin developing their skills in a nursery or preschool environment.
You will work under supervision while developing your knowledge of children’s learning, development and wellbeing.
The Level 2 apprenticeship is equivalent to GCSE level and can provide a foundation for progressing into further Early Years training.
A Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship takes your development further.
It is an advanced level apprenticeship, equivalent to A Levels, and is suitable for school and college leavers who want to develop greater responsibility within an Early Years setting.
You will develop the knowledge and skills needed to plan, organise and lead learning activities and support children’s development.
For some learners, Level 3 will be the right place to start. For others, Level 2 provides the ideal foundation before progressing to Level 3.
There isn’t one route that is right for everyone.
The important thing is finding the level that matches your current qualifications, experience and career goals.
You Don’t Need to Have Everything Figured Out
One of the biggest advantages of starting an Early Years apprenticeship is that you develop your skills as you go.
You do not need to walk into your first day knowing how to do everything.
You will be learning.
You will make mistakes.
You will ask questions.
You will receive feedback.
And gradually, you will become more confident.
That’s what an apprenticeship is designed to do.
The official Early Years Careers guidance specifically highlights apprenticeships as a route for people with no previous experience, with Level 2 offering an entry point into the sector and Level 3 providing a pathway towards greater responsibility.
So don’t rule yourself out simply because you have never worked in a nursery before.
Your attitude, enthusiasm, reliability and willingness to learn can be just as important when starting your career.
What Could You Actually Do as an Early Years Apprentice?
Your day will depend on your role, your nursery and the children you work with, but you could be involved in a huge range of activities.
You might help children develop their communication skills through stories and conversations.
You could support creative activities, outdoor play and physical development.
You may help children develop independence through everyday routines.
You could observe children’s development and contribute to planning activities that support their individual needs.
You will also learn about important areas such as safeguarding, health and safety, child development and working with families.
Most importantly, you will gain experience working as part of a real nursery team.
That experience is incredibly valuable because you are developing professional skills while gaining your qualification.
What Skills Will You Build?
An Early Years apprenticeship is not just about learning how to work with children.
You will develop skills that can stay with you throughout your career.
Communication.
Teamwork.
Organisation.
Problem solving.
Time management.
Confidence.
Leadership.
Creativity.
Professional responsibility.
You will also learn how to communicate with colleagues and families, work as part of a team and take responsibility for your own development.
These are transferable skills that can support you throughout your working life.
Where Could an Early Years Apprenticeship Take You?
Starting as an apprentice does not mean you are committing yourself to staying in exactly the same role forever.
In fact, an apprenticeship can be the beginning of a much longer career journey.
You could progress from an Early Years apprentice into a qualified Early Years Practitioner or Early Years Educator.
With experience and further development, you could progress into roles such as Senior Practitioner, Room Leader, Deputy Nursery Manager and Nursery Manager.
There are also opportunities to move into wider leadership, training, mentoring and specialist roles as your experience develops.
The official Early Years Careers guidance highlights that Level 3 qualifications can support progression into senior roles with greater responsibility.
So don’t just think about the job you could have next year.
Think about where that first step could eventually take you.
What If You Didn’t Get the Results You Wanted?
If your results were disappointing, you may feel as though you are already behind.
You’re not.
There may still be routes available to you that you hadn’t considered.
An apprenticeship can sometimes provide an alternative pathway into a career, allowing you to gain experience and qualifications while working.
The important thing is not to make a decision based purely on panic.
Take some time to understand your options.
Speak to a careers adviser.
Talk to training providers.
Look at apprenticeship vacancies.
Ask employers what they are looking for.
And don’t assume that one set of grades has closed every door.
There are often more routes into a career than you might initially realise.
What Should You Do One Week After Results Day?
Now that the initial results day rush has settled, this is a good time to take a step back and think properly about your options.
Start by asking yourself what you actually want from your next step.
Do you want to continue studying full time?
Would you prefer to earn money while gaining a qualification?
Do you want to start gaining workplace experience?
Would you enjoy working with children?
Would you prefer practical learning to classroom based learning?
Once you have a better idea of what matters to you, start researching the careers and pathways that fit.
If Early Years sounds interesting, find out what Level 2 and Level 3 Early Years apprenticeships actually involve.
Look at the qualifications.
Understand the entry requirements.
Find out what support is available.
And speak to someone who can answer your questions.
You don’t have to commit just because you are asking questions.
Exploring an option does not mean you have to choose it.
Why Choose Swift Childcare?
At Swift Childcare, we specialise in Early Years training and apprenticeships.
Our aim is to help learners understand their options and build the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to start a rewarding career.
Our Level 2 and Level 3 Early Years apprenticeship programmes combine employment in a nursery with structured training and support.
You will learn in the workplace, develop practical experience and work towards a recognised qualification while earning a salary.
Our tutors and support teams are there to help you throughout your apprenticeship, from starting your programme through to completing your qualification and taking your next career step.
And if you’re still unsure whether Early Years is right for you, that’s okay too.
Talk to us.
We can explain how the programmes work, answer your questions and help you understand which pathway could be right for you.
It’s Not Too Late to Change Your Plans
A week after results day is not the end of your decision making.
It can actually be the perfect time to slow down and think.
The pressure of results day has passed.
You may have a clearer idea of what your grades mean.
And you can start looking at your options without making a rushed decision.
Whether your results were exactly what you wanted or completely different from what you expected, there are still opportunities ahead.
If you think you might enjoy a career where you can earn while you learn, gain real workplace experience, achieve a recognised qualification and make a difference to children’s lives, an Early Years apprenticeship could be worth exploring.
Your career doesn’t have to start with having everything figured out.
It starts with finding the right next step.
Ready to Explore Your Options?
If you’re a school or college leaver and you’re considering a career in Early Years, we’ve created a range of resources to help.
Download our FREE Early Years Careers Guide to discover the different career pathways available and where an Early Years qualification could take you.
Download our Level 2 or Level 3 Early Years Apprenticeship Prospectus to find out more about the programmes, what you’ll learn, the support available and how apprenticeships work.
Or, if you’re not sure which option is right for you, speak to the Swift Childcare team. We’re happy to have an informal conversation, answer your questions and help you explore your next step.
Explore the official Early Years Careers apprenticeship information
Your results don’t define your future. What you do next can help shape it.
