Meet Our Apprentices! #3 - James Upton

James Upton - Early Years Assistant

Type of Apprenticeship undertaking at Cliffe House Training Academy: Level 3 Early Years Educator

Start date: April 2025

Predicted end date: June 2026

Get to know James

Hi, I’m James, I’m 24 and from Ilkley. I’m doing the Level 3 Early Years Educator course.

What do you like to do outside of work?

Outside of work I like to spend time with my girlfriend, we like to go on walks and go out for food together. I like going to live music too.

Choosing an apprenticeship

What made you decide on an apprenticeship in Early Years, or to work with children in general?

I was pretty certain what I wanted to do when I left school. I was very good at English and Health and Social Care, those were the two subjects I was really passionate about. So my aspiration was to become a teacher of some kind – either an English, Music or P.E. teacher. So I went to college, and whilst I was there I did my Level 1 Early Years qualification.

I really enjoyed it, so I did some work experience in a nursery and they offered me a job after my first week! So the ball just started rolling from there really. I worked there from January 2018 to November 2023, then I came to Cliffe House.

Life as an Early Years apprentice

What does a typical day look like for you?

So I’m at my nursery 4 days a week, I have a study day once a week to complete my coursework, and my monthly coaching session will take part on that day too. I’ll also have 2 hours throughout the week whenever I can take them.

What is your favourite part about working with young children?

The relationships that you build with the children, and not just the children but the parents too. Ultimately you are a very big role model in these children’s lives and you do create really nice bonds with them and their families. It’s also really rewarding when children come into your room very shy and leave a completely different child. Building their confidence is so special.

Assignments and Coaching Sessions

How do you find the monthly coaching sessions?

I find the coaching sessions very, very helpful. Melissa is my tutor and she is really lovely. I couldn’t ask for any more – she’s supportive, very understanding, and I’ve never been afraid to ask for help.

I’m in a group with another student who I work quite closely with at my nursery and also a student from a different nursery. I really like being taught in a small group – we can ask questions with ease and it feels really informal.

How are the assignments going so far, what kind of topics have you covered?

The one I’ve just done was about attachment theories and how we implement them in settings. Next month is all about the role of the key person, so what our roles and responsibilities are. For the one in May, we had to fill out lots of different policies – a lockdown log, an accident form, all the important things that we fill out pretty much on a daily basis, so it’s really relevant.

How did you find juggling the apprenticeship on top of working full time?

Once you get into a routine, it’s straightforward. I like having my study day so I can come in, get into the zone and crack on.

There might be times where it’s a bit harder to juggle. I went on holiday for two weeks in May and when I came back I needed to catch up a bit. But Aptem and the support from my tutors made that really easy to do.

Experiences as a man in Early Years

As a man, you bring unique value to your setting – you offer a different perspective and are a really great male role model for the children in your care. Do you mind expanding on this?

I think having someone at the setting who’s a member of the opposite sex is really beneficial actually – it definitely does offer a different perspective. Obviously, this role can be quite female-oriented, so I think it’s really important to show the children that you can do anything – you don’t need to be a woman to work in Early Years, and the same goes for other industries that are more typically male or female-dominated. I think it’s really important for children to see lots of different people in different roles – it’s diversity in a small way and helps set them up for later life.

Have you faced any individual challenges as a man working in Early Years?

Quite a few actually. There’s a big stereotype about men working in settings with young children, and this can affect how you’re treated from time to time. I’ve had parents feel uncomfortable with me doing their children’s nappies simply because I was a man. These (albeit rare) situations have left me feeling a bit singled out at times.

How do you think we could attract more men into this industry?

Hmm… that’s a very good question! I suppose just giving them the advice and reassurance they need to make the jump. I think visibility can really help too, seeing men in the roles can help break down the stereotype. I’ve personally had so many compliments from parents saying how nice it is to have a man in my setting.

If you’re a man considering a role in Early Years, I say absolutely go for it and don’t worry about the stigma and stereotypes. Just brush them off.

Reflections

Do you have a personal highlight from your apprenticeship?

Helping the children progress every day. It might be a big thing, it might be a small thing, but it all adds up to the bigger picture. It’s very rewarding watching the children in your care develop and grow.

What would you say to someone thinking of starting an Early Years Apprenticeship with Cliffe House Training Academy?

Go for it, 100%. The whole set up with Aptem makes it all so accessible and straightforward. The support network you get from your tutors and nursery manager is amazing, they’ve all been right behind me every step of the way.

Thanks so much James for taking part in this blog post! I loved hearing about your experiences on your course and in the world of Early Years, especially as a man in this traditionally women-dominated field.

If you’re interested in starting an Early Years Apprenticeship with us, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, we’d love to chat! Our email is info@cliffehousetrainingacademy.co.uk. Thanks for reading!