“It’s a very rewarding career and not many men do it” – 16-year-old nursery apprentice Harley says more men should work in early years education

A 16-year-old apprentice is urging more males to consider a career working in early years education after helping to give children the best start in life at the nursery where he grew up.

Harley Keenan is an apprentice at Buttercup Corner Day Nursery in Chadderton. He started in September after sitting his GCSEs in the summer. But he has been helping out during the holidays at the nursery since he was 14, and his connections with Buttercup Corner go back even further.

Harley used to attend the after-school club at the nursery, and his former key worker Danielle Atkins is now his room leader.

The former Co-op Academy Failsworth pupil is proud to be a positive role model working in an early years setting.

Harley with Matt Bulmer, Director of Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning at Oldham Council

He explained: “It’s a very rewarding career and not many men do it. It’s important because there are a lot of boys who don’t have that role model.”

Harley said about his role as Early Years Apprentice: “I get so much out of it, I feel inspired. Watching them grow is just a massive thing for me personally. 

“I started here as a holiday cover, but then I found the love for this job and thought I want to do it as an apprentice.”

Early Years Practitioner Amy Hill, 22, also started at Buttercup Corner straight from school at 16.

Early Years Practitioner Amy Hill, 22, also started at Buttercup Corner straight from school

When she was just 18, Amy was a member of the team who kept the nursery running during the coronavirus pandemic. “We kept it open for the children of key workers and there were five of us working in a bubble. I just wanted to help and it was very rewarding,” the former Saddleworth School pupil explained.

Harley and Amy and the team at Buttercup Nursery launched the Greater Manchester Early Education and Childcare Workforce Campaign in Oldham with a visit from Council Leader Cllr Arooj Shah, Cllr Shaid Mushtaq, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People and Matt Bulmer, Director of Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning.

They were joined by partners and training providers including Oldham Council’s Lifelong Learning Service and Get Oldham Working, Oldham JobCentre Plus and Oldham College.

Buttercup Nursery launched the Greater Manchester Early Education and Childcare Workforce Campaign in Oldham with a visit from Council Leader Cllr Arooj Shah, Cllr Shaid Mushtaq, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People and Matt Bulmer, Director of Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning

They were given a tour by manager Kimberley Woodward and heard from staff about how they are enjoying helping children to grow and thrive.

The 12-month campaign by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, made up of the 10 councils across the region, aims to improve recruitment, raise awareness of the role in early education and childcare in supporting early child development and celebrate our Early Years workforce and the impact they make on the lives of children and families.

Room leader Niamh Hartshone said: “I was a very shy girl but I’m very confident now. I love watching the children grow up here.”

Council Leader Cllr Arooj Shah met children at the nursery

And nursery practitioner Sadia Begum said: “I love that there is always something new every day. I would definitely recommend it as a career.”

Cllr Shah said: “It was so inspiring to meet members of our early years workforce in Oldham and the happy and thriving children who they are setting up for life.

“Early years education is an amazing choice of career, making children who they are and building the important foundations for their lifelong learning journey.”

And Cllr Mushtaq said: “We need motivated and ambitious people like these to give young people in Oldham the best start in life.”

To find out more about how early education is helping children to thrive click here.

And for info on how you can work with small children in Oldham visit our website www.oldham.gov.uk/do_something_big