Natasha Roberts, 24, joined YMCA Training Eastbourne on
a childcare Apprenticeship programme in 2008 having left
hairdressing to pursue her career dream of working with
children.
When she began the programme, Natasha lacked a lot of confidence
in her own abilities. She is dyslexic and found the written side of
the qualification challenging. As she progressed, she developed her
academic skills and worked to an excellent standard. There has been
positive considerable change in Natasha's confidence and
professional skills and she always met targets set and was keen to
ask questions to help her understanding.
Natasha completed her qualification ahead of time and progressed
onto an Advanced Apprenticeship which she has also now completed.
Even through challenging times at the nursery, she continued to be
motivated and determined to work to the best of her
ability.
Terri Cramp, Birkdale Hall Day Nursery manager, said: "Natasha
started at the nursery without any knowledge or prior experiences
of working with children. Even in the early days, she demonstrated
that she had an excellent ability to work with children and I feel
she could now continue further past her Level 3. We have continued
to set her tasks and challenges which she has met with enthusiasm
and competence. In my opinion she "has what it takes". The children
adore her and she particularly works well with more challenging
children."
Natasha said: " Working with children gives me the best
satisfaction of all, and I feel privileged to have achieved all
that I have. I have enjoyned every minute of it. I hope I have many
years of working in childcare to come."
Natasha is currently on maternity leave for her first child, and
hopes to return to work and develop her skills even further in the
near future.