Nelli Vedentausta got the early childhood education bug

Nelli Vedentausta had already been thinking about going to upper secondary school after primary school when the early childhood education bug struck.

- My brother had a child just six months before the joint application. I decided to forget about upper secondary school and pursue a career in early childhood education, she smiles.

The second year of studies is about to start and there is still one more to go. So far, her studies have more than fulfilled her hopes and expectations and she is very happy with both her studies and her career choice.

- I have already been able to take care of children during my work placements and it has taught me a lot. Practice is the best part of these studies, theory is quite boring, although important of course, she laughs.

The training also includes working at Tredu's Santalahdentie branch in Children's Helmet. It is a childcare centre for short-term childcare, where parents can bring their children to be looked after by the students for a couple of hours. Teachers supervise the students' work and, of course, give practical lessons at the same time.

Tampere still attracts

Vedentausta, from Kangasala, has lived most of his life in the Tampere area and is in no hurry to leave.

- I would love to stay and work here when I graduate. Tampere is the best!

Although Vedentausta's future job could be anywhere in the city, there are two day-care centres where she would prefer to work, if she could choose based on her traineeships.

- I really liked Vuores and the atmosphere was really nice at the Nahkatehdas daycare centre in Epilä, she says.
So her experience in the sector has been positive across the board, and she can't think of any bad points offhand.

The workplace must be comfortable

Vedentausta will not miss out on upper secondary school, as she is also taking courses in upper secondary school in addition to her studies as a childminder. The days are sometimes long and there is no distance learning, but she is not complaining.

- I like studying and just doing vocational studies would have been frustrating, she says.

After graduating as a childminder, she plans to work for a while and then apply to university to study to become an early childhood teacher. However, there is no rush to do so, and the time for possible further studies will come when she feels like it.

For Vedentausta, a career as an early childhood teacher can be seen as a vocation. However, the Tampere-based future-maker has high hopes for jobs.

- Although children are the best part of the job, a good working atmosphere and working environment are important, she stresses.