Case Study
Alicia Blake
Alicia Blake, an employee of Bear Care Nursery in Stapleford, came to us as a troubled school pupil. Read
below how she turned herself around. She is now beginning a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
Work It Out Extra (Child Care)
The Gedling School in partnership with Access Training
September 2007 to July 2009
Alicia is funded by the Excelerate programme offered by Nottinghamshire Training Network. The
aim of this is to deliver an accredited level 2 vocational qualification to encourage progression into a career of the
learner’s choice. Schools were asked to identify students who would be motivated by and able to cope with a two day
per week work placement for two years and be capable of achieving a level 2 qualification.
The Gedling School put Alicia forward as she is interested in working either with young or disabled
children in the future. Alicia is a bright young lady who, on her own admission, was getting into trouble at school,
generally messing around and had been excluded several times by the time she started the programme.
Initial Assessment by Access Training confirmed her enthusiasm for a work placement and her
commitment to engage in the extra work necessary. Although Alicia goes to The Gedling School, she actually lives in
Stapleford so we were pleased to be able to arrange an initial interview and trial at Bear Care Nursery in
Stapleford. We appointed one of our experienced lead Training Assessors, Nicky Sims, who visits her approximately
every three weeks and is steering Alicia through a Level 2 Certificate in Children’s Care, Learning and Development
which is worth 92 points and is the equivalent of 2 GCSEs.
Alicia has just completed the first year of the programme and both she and her teachers have noticed
a marked improvement in her attitude at school. She has not been in trouble at all at school, makes a real effort to
catch up on school work missed and has an excellent attendance record both at school and at the nursery. Better
still, she is really pleased with what she has learnt so far and that the opportunity has confirmed for her that this is
the area she wants to work in. Cedric Davidson, Deputy Head of Gedling School, is delighted with Alicia’s progress. He
said that she was "much calmer in school" and that the programme was having a "maturing effect on her"
At the nursery she enjoys playing with the children, learning how structured play helps in
children’s development, and particularly getting the hands on experience to support the theory she is learning. She
says that seeing young children squabbling has made her behave in a more mature way and she really appreciates being
made to feel part of the team at Bear Care.
As part of her qualification, she has had to research different cultures and how customs can be
celebrated in a nursery setting. She looked at the Chinese New Year Festival and made Chinese lanterns and dragon
pictures with the children at the nursery. Janet Budden, the owner of Bear Care Nursery commented, "I can see a change in
Alicia since she started with us in October. She has really grown in confidence and is a very willing member of the
team"
Although Alicia finds some of the work hard, she says she either asks for help from the staff at
Bear Care, or contacts Nicky directly on her mobile. Nicky is pleased with Alicia’s progress. She says "Alicia always
meets the targets she is set and takes advice on board."
At the end of the two year programme, not only will Alicia have the relevant experience, but she will
already have completed a substantial part of an apprenticeship framework enabling her to progress rapidly if
she so wishes.
UPDATE JAN 09
Alicia won the pre-16 Award at the Nottinghamshire Training Network Awards Ceremony held at Nottingham University
Conference Centre and is pictured with her proud parents.
UPDATE JULY 09
The extended work experience confirmed Alicia in her decision that she wanted to continue to work with young
children and she decided to remain with Access Training to complete her Apprenticeship in Children’s Care Learning and
Development. As she had enjoyed working at Bear Care, she has remained there for 3 days per week and also attends
classes in our Nottingham office for Functional Skills and Child Care seminars.
Leslye Carr, who took over from Cedric Davidson at The Gedling School, is really pleased with how
the programme has worked for Alicia and especially that it has led to an apprenticeship.
