Your Co-op Little Pioneers nursery group has launched work experience sessions for toddlers, in partnership with local businesses.

Children were asked their dream job and given the chance to spend a day trying it out. Some were able to work with animals at Hoo Zoo in Telford, shadowing an experienced animal specialist. Their duties included feeding the lemurs, checking in on rescued meerkats and helping to care for a variety of small rescue animals, including a hedgehog, a snake and a lizard.

Others spent a day being a princess at Warwick Castle, exploring the castle, learning to politely welcome visitors as a team and monitoring the beautiful grounds.

The project comes off the back of research commissioned by the nursery group which found the employee qualities most highly valued by business leaders are trustworthiness (30%), adaptability (28%) and teamwork (28%). When asked what makes for a great manager, the most desirable skills identified were strong communication (65%), being a natural leader (32%) and problem solving (21%).

Bethany Patrick, acting chief operating officer, at Your Co-op Little Pioneers, said: “It’s been brilliant to launch our new work experience sessions. Not only have they been great fun for our children, but it’s also given them a chance to put their skills into action and learn some new ones along the way.”

She added: “Early years education is so much more than just childcare, and the research has shown just how important the skills developed during those formative years, including empathy, communication and teamwork, are to ensuring our children get the strongest start in life. It’s been great fun to be able to provide playful and educational opportunities to help bring the little ones’ imaginations to life, whilst inspiring them to achieve their dreams as they grow.”

Your Co-op Little Pioneers is part of The Midcounties Co-operative and operates 45 nurseries across the UK.