Fennies has launched its new academy which has been designed for individuals looking to develop their career in the early years sector.

Fennies is dedicated to helping people grow within their career path, whilst helping them to develop skills and improve the quality of their practice, and this is all done with the support of industry experts and training providers. The academy will be led by the academy leads, Jamie Atkins and Pru Barwood, who will create content and communicate on behalf of the Education Team. 

There are four key functions of the academy which have been summarised below:

Development Hub

We are focused on internal training and professional growth at Fennies. We want our practitioners to feel empowered and confident, to make every child feel valued and heard. As a Fennies family, we are one big community and we are committed to supporting each other, sharing best practice and to lead our own learning. Inspiring sessions will help those who are discovering more about child development, all the way up to those looking to develop their leadership skills.

Placements

Fennies offer placements for those who choose to study Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 at colleges as well as work experience for school students. We aim to make work placements the highlight of a student’s qualification where they have the chance to gain a real insight into the challenging yet rewarding work in the early years sector.

Apprenticeships

Fennies currently offer Level 2 and Level 3 Early Years Apprenticeships – they will be looking to expand this over the next year to include higher levels, leadership progression and to branch out into other functions in the business. These apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity to “earn while you learn” and give the best possible insight into the world of early years. We offer our apprentices a supportive environment to learn the necessary skills and gain valuable hands-on experience to succeed in the sector. Plus, each apprentice gets up to 50% travel reimbursed and free lunch.

Graduate Scheme

This paid two-year scheme is designed to give new graduates and current Fennies staff the chance to experience all departments of the Fennies business, training them for a successful career in their chosen area of the early years sector. This scheme is unique as it can be tailored to each candidate, depending on their experience, qualifications, and career goals.

Fennies Academy launches in March 2022, and Pru Barwood, academy lead, stated:

“Fennies Academy has been designed with you in mind. We offer specialised training for anyone aspiring to work within early years, no matter which route you choose to take or the qualifications you wish to achieve, we offer outstanding learning and development opportunities delivered by Fennies experts and our external partners to support your growing career.”