Little Tigers Day Care

Little Tigers Day Care employed Ellie Curtis from Rogiet, as its first Playwork apprentice. She has autism and dyslexia and requires extra support day-to-day. 

Natalie Hughes, Little Tigers Nursery Manager says: “We took on Ellie as a Level 3 Playwork Apprentice. She initially struggled to find a paid apprenticeship placement in her hometown, so her advisor suggested she consider joining the family business as the nursery’s first apprentice.

We are so proud of how well Ellie has done since she started with us. She’s a real all-rounder and a pleasure to work with, and her autism hasn’t been a cause for concern.

We recently promoted her to Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinator, giving her responsibility for working with the speech and language therapists and health visitors, to create individual development plans for the children.

Ellie has stepped up to the challenge of her new role brilliantly. She’s so dedicated, and always goes above and beyond in everything we ask of her. Recently, she’s even started to mentor new starters at the nursery too, taking them under her wing and making them feel welcome.

Ellie has become a role model for them because she really understands what it’s like. It’s funny how the children with additional learning needs take so well to her. 

Ellie’s goal now is to work solely with children who have additional learning needs and complete her Level 5 Management apprenticeship that will open doors for her into the next stage of her career.”