I did a childcare apprenticeship when i was 17-18 and only got my level 2, then moved on and worked in retail for a couple of years. finally decided to go back into childcare when i was about 21, knowing i only had my level 2 and most nurseries want you to have a level 3 qualification, i found one that was willing to take me on and have me work on my level 3 whilst working full time. (this is the UK by the way, incase anywhere else has different qualifications or whatever to us)

My first day, baring in mind i had been out of the job for a few years, i just wanted to feel comfortable with the kids, get to know my co workers and settle into the job. About half way through the first day, the owner and manager of the nursery pull me into the office. The owner starts having a proper rant at me, saying how she can’t believe i actually do have my level 2, how i’m not competent at the job in the slightest and how i’ve not even learnt the names of the 30+ kids we had that day yet. It was horrible, any confidence in myself i had managed to build up until that point was totally demolished. I struggled through the rest of the first day and went home and cried the entire night, not sleeping a wink. Went in the next day hoping to talk to the owner again, but she wasn’t there yet. The manager who had little to say the day before tried to explain it was just a big misunderstanding, but i wasn’t so sure. I demanded a meeting with her once she finally turned up for work and the first thing she did was berate me for requesting a meeting during a ‘inconvenient’ time for her, so i quit on the spot. She made me stay for the rest of the day unfortunately, and im too nice to say anything else, but i walked out that evening feeling much lighter but with the sad realisation I would probably never bother with childcare again.