Ashton duo Justin Bennett and Joshua Cross are playing a major part in helping men enter child care.

The tenacious twosome, who have both begun Level 2 Apprenticeships in the profession, are making nonsense of the claim that looking after children is just “woman’s work”.

Joshua Cross and Justin Bennett

And by learning the ropes in kiddie care they are also helping society - by becoming positive male role models to the children in their charge.

“So many teenagers have gone off the rails because they’ve never had a father figure in their lives” said Audra Nicholls, Rathbone Centre Manager for Ashton. “The children Justin and Joshua are working with are privileged because they are getting an early introduction to how gentle and caring men can be.”

For serial baby sitter Justin – who is currently on placement at Squirrels Wood Nursery School in Audenshaw – going into child care has been a lifelong ambition. Telling his friends about working at the Rosebud Nursery proved a little more thorny for Josh, though. “My mates did take the Mick” admitted the 16-year-old, “but I’m winning them round and my mum’s dead pleased.”

According to figures released by the General Teaching Council there are just two males under 25 working in state nurseries – in the entire country!