Jungle Fun at Early Years

Almost 30 second year students had the chance of practical experience with the children as part of their BTEC national diploma - 16 spent the morning at the nursery, then 11 took on the afternoon shift.

Childcare Tutor Mary Osman said: "The students worked in groups to plan activities on a jungle theme for the children at the nursery - they prepared everything themselves.

"It has worked really well - they are impressively prepared, and also very skilled - in the second year of their course they are very skilled at this stage - and working independently on the activities. Obviously the staff are here to supervise, but there hasn't been much need for their input.

"The students are enthusiastic and excited - they are very confident and capable, and quite a few of them are going on to do teacher training at the end of this academic year, while others go on to nurseries, and some to schools as teaching assistants. We also have some students going on to nursing degrees, and speech therapy.

"As an experienced primary school teacher I regard this course as excellent preparation for working with children...I only wish I had had the opportunity to do it myself."

She feels that hands-on experience is "very valuable", and added: "It is really about planning the whole session and all the activities - it is an excellent opportunity and we are very grateful to Karen for providing that."

Manager Karen Woodgate commented: "They are doing really well... It is good for them to work together as a team and bring all they are learning at college into a working nursery."