By KLTV Newsdesk –

Gatesgarth Education and Training offers an affordable, hands-on alternative to university for aspiring childcare professionals in West Yorkshire.

A pair of Huddersfield-based childcare entrepreneurs have launched a new self-funded training programme to combat the growing regional skills shortage in early years education.

Zoe and Marcus Davy, owners of the independent nursery Shape Nurture Solutions in Lindley, are set to unveil Gatesgarth Education and Training (GET) this autumn – a vocational course aimed at equipping the next generation of childcare professionals with practical skills, leadership training, and industry-recognised qualifications.

The two-year course is an alternative to university, designed for students with A-level qualifications who are passionate about early years education but face financial or accessibility barriers. It combines classroom learning, hands-on nursery placements, and mentorship from experienced professionals.

From Grassroots to Leadership

Zoe and Marcus, who founded Shape Nurture nearly a decade ago and now support nearly 300 local families, say the GET programme is a direct response to a “worrying lack” of early years practitioners entering the field.

Zoe explained: “This is definitely a labour of love for us, harnessing our own experience of managing our own nursery in Huddersfield. It’s our vision that Gatesgarth will nurture and develop an enriched community of enthusiastic and confident carers.

“We believe it’s important that students and prospective apprentices have the experience that will create a rock-solid foundation for their career, and through Shape Nurture, we are already creating a platform for outstanding talent, and we aspire to continue this more formally through GET.”

Earn While You Learn

The GET course, accredited by NCFE, offers a diploma upon completion and allows students to earn as they learn in a smaller, supportive environment. Training includes first aid, communication skills, activity planning, nutrition and menu design, and more. Each student will be placed in a local nursery or school to apply their learning in real time.

Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, the course also encourages students to bring their passions – such as art, baking, dance or music – into their teaching practice, enriching the learning experience for both practitioners and children.

Expert Team Driving Change

Zoe will personally oversee and mentor students throughout the programme. She will be joined by:

• Jo McEvoy, tutor and assessor with 30 years of experience in early years and primary education

• Samra Anwar, learning co-ordinator at Shape Nurture, brings international insight and cultural awareness to the programme.

• Marcus Davy, who will lead the qualification and assessment processes

The team is committed not only to delivering an impactful learning journey but also to fostering diversity and inclusion within the profession and in the families served.

Zoe added: “We know that the dynamics of every family is different and a lot of the parents we’ve worked with would have struggled with childcare if Shape Nurture hadn’t provided the necessary provision that perhaps they wouldn’t have been able to get elsewhere.

We are committed to investing in this long-term, and GET will help provide the exceptional professionals required to meet the complex needs of families and children that the sector so desperately needs.”

Wraparound App and Future Vision

Complementing the programme, this summer will see the launch of the Wraparound App, a digital network connecting families with GET-approved practitioners. Services will include babysitting, holiday care, maternity nurses, night nannies and more, providing flexible childcare support for a wide range of needs.

Zoe concluded:

“Our ultimate ambition for GET is that it becomes a catalyst for increasing the value of the practitioner through better terms and pay prospects as well as becoming the student choice for those who aspire to lead and manage in early years education.”

Get Involved

Applications for the Gatesgarth Education and Training course are now open at www.gatesgarth.org, with a September 2025 start. Course fees range from £600 to £2,220, and places are limited.

An open day will be held on Friday 16 May from 12.30 pm – 4 pm at the Yorkshire Children’s Centre, Brian Jackson House, Huddersfield. Attendance is free, but registration is required via Eventbrite.