Level 3 Early Years Apprentice Review
at Busy Bees Childcare
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Maidstone
Review Submitted: March 2025
Overall Rating
5 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
5/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
I am based in a room and spend most of my time doing activities with the children, as well as writing observations and providing learning opportunities for them. I serve them their food and supervise them during mealtimes, I change nappies, do my weekly teaching plan for my key children and create displays for the room. I log mealtimes/nappies/bottles online for the parents to see. I cover other staff’s lunches in other rooms and play with the children there/ help with mealtimes/nappies etc. I also do handovers.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I enjoy my programme to a large extent; every day is fun and I always look forward to going in to the nursery! I genuinely wake up happy to go to work.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
In my four months of being an apprentice, I have learned so much. I’ve learned skills such as how to change nappies, make baby bottles, put children to bed, and how to do handovers. I’ve also learned a lot about the EYFS framework and health and safety + safeguarding legislation and policy/procedures. I’ve learnt how to complete teaching plans and about the ‘Bee Curious’ curriculum.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
I don’t think the programme could be better structured if they tried! Everything is planned out, from the initial induction to being assigned a development coach who is always there to support you and who you communicate with regularly. The sectors that you learn are organised monthly and you work your way through them one at a time.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I get an extraordinary amount of support, my employer is very encouraging and is always happy to answer my questions and help me however they can. They also praise me and give me feedback on my practice to allow me to become the best practitioner I can be.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
My training provider offers me a lot of support- a have a development coach who I can email at the drop of a hat, and the training provider organises an annual apprenticeship week as well as frequently creating opportunities for apprentices within the company.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
My apprenticeship has supported me massively by helping me understand the ‘why’ behind a lot of the job role; for example, learning about health and safety/ safeguarding/ role of a key person, and learning about the EYFS framework.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
I was recently selected to attend a networking event with other employees from different Busy Bees nurseries within my area, to have a meeting with the Area Director and Deputy Area Director, where we discussed upcoming news/ events within the nurseries and got to pass along anything we felt our nurseries needed. It was a great opportunity to meet other staff outside of my centre, and I even met another apprentice.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Busy Bees Childcare to a friend?
Yes
Why?
They have made my apprenticeship easy for me in terms of the organisation and layout of it, and have offered me continuous and constant support and opportunities.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Busy Bees Childcare?
Go for it! Make sure to keep on top of your ‘off the job’ hours and to complete your assignments, but remember that your employer and the training team are there to help you!
