Foundation Degree – Children & Young People
Alex Hopkinson
Alex really enjoyed working with children as a volunteer cricket coach and wanted to teach PE when he left school. He didn’t get the grades he needed so he decided to train as a joiner. During his time working as a caretaker in the school where he had been a cricket coach, a member of staff suggested that he had some of the key qualities to make a good Teaching Assistant. He started work as a volunteer in the classroom around his caretaking hours and studying at college. He hasn’t looked back since and is now working as a full time teaching assistant.
We asked Alex to tell us more about his journey to success and how his college studies have helped him. He told us:
“The volunteering hours I was doing at the same time as my caretaking role counted as part of my placement for my course. It was really valuable to help give me the experience I needed. As soon as I completed my Level 2 course the school offered me supply teaching assistant hours and I am now employed full-time as a one to one support assistant.
I completed my Level 2 and Level 3 Diploma in Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools in 18 months and I am now studying on the 3 year university-level course. My hope is that it might lead onto a Qualified Teaching Status course but I have an open mind.
Seeing the children progress is one of the nicest things. To be able to be part of something that gives children the skills they need is really rewarding.
As a teaching assistant you get to support children with emotional and academic development which is a part of the job I really enjoy. One day is never the same as the next. The lesson might be the same but the way children react might be completely different.
I had to learn how to juggle studying and work but it wasn’t too tricky because it was so related to what I was doing every day. It has helped me to work to deadlines as well as give me the skills I need to be a good Teaching Assistant. It can be stressful sometimes but there was always lots of support from college. Tutors are happy to spend time with you to work through any issues and to be flexible around personal commitments.
I learnt a lot about the practical side of my role when assessors visited me in placement. They would give lots of good advice and encouragement about how to approach certain tasks which was really useful.
The course helped me to understand the legislation you need to know about when working in a school. As you go up the levels of study there are also lots of theories to learn. It is really helpful though. The child development aspect of the course has been an eye-opener and has made me realise why children behave and act in a certain way.
If you have the right qualities to work in a classroom and you want to see children succeed it is definitely a good job to have. I would recommend giving the course a go. College will support you to achieve but there is no pressure to continue if you find the course isn’t for you. It has helped me to achieve so much.”