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Early Years Case Studies
Look where an Early Years Education Course can take you.
Rachel
Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
Immediately after graduation I worked as a room leader for a non-maintained nursery setting. The practitioner route was extremely useful for this position as I had already had the opportunity to gather experience and develop knowledge from a number of different early years settings.
I was volunteering as a student when I was offered the position as a nursery nurse at the setting, then progressing to room leader after graduation. I was then offered the role as deputy manager within the nursery, which I would not have achieved without the Early Years Practitioner Status Associated with the degree.
However, I chose to apply for a job within Carmarthenshire County Council’s education department as a graduate trainee research officer, where I am currently employed.
Knowledge gained from the degree including safeguarding, Additional Learning Needs approaches, play based learning, legislation as well as insights into the Curriculum for Wales have been extremely valuable to my current role in supporting schools and providing research into best practise and pedagogy.
Likewise, the Early Years Practitioner Status gave me the chance to gain experience within a foundation phase school setting, giving me a helpful insight into school setting structure and context.
Angela Honey
Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status 2 year flexible route
Dreaming of becoming a teacher and thought it couldn’t come true!
Read Angela’s story. She is now a primary school teacher. Find out how the Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status 2 year flexible route helped her reach her dream
I had been working as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) in a primary school for 5 years and before that, I was a classroom assistant and learning support assistant. I had always wanted to further my education and broaden my career prospects. I felt the next step in my continuing personal development would be to embark on an undergraduate degree but this seemed impossible to me as I had a young family to support and needed to remain in work.
A colleague of mine showed me a flyer for a part time degree with UWTSD in Early Years Education and Care. Feeling excited by the prospect of a new challenge, I made contact with the University and enrolled on the fast track degree which could be completed in two years.
It was hard work, working full time and raising a family but the course was fantastic and the staff were really supportive. The modules were interesting and engaging and even after a full day’s work, I was always excited to attend evening class. I ended up leaving with a first class BA honours degree.
I knew I wanted to remain working in a school and I had always dreamed of becoming a teacher. I was fortunate enough to be accepted on to the Graduate Teacher Programme, which again, allowed me to study whilst remaining in work. In July, I received QTS and have now secured a teaching position in the same school where I undertook my training. I feel blessed and privileged to have come this far and I am eternally grateful to UWTSD for encouraging and supporting me to reach my goal.
Natasha
Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
After a successful start to my career in pharmacy, I decided to start a family. Whilst my children were young, I was a stay at home mum, this is where my passion for the early years began. Watching my own children learn and develop inspired me to change my career path into childcare.
In 2010, I became a childminder, later I volunteered at my local Cylch Meithrin. I was soon offered a full-time post and was successful in achieving my Level 3 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development through Mudiad Meithrin’s Cam Wrth Gam scheme. I have since completed the Level 5 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development (Management Diploma).
However, having left school at 17, halfway through my A-Levels, I never thought I would have the opportunity to gain a degree but then I came across the BA degree in Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s.
I nervously decided to embark on this exciting journey. I was able to continue working fulltime and juggle my family whilst attending lectures once a week in university. The support and provision from everyone on the Early Years team was second to none, nothing was ever too much for the team.
The course content was interesting, current and relevant to my career in childcare and education. The modules covered a range of topics, including learning environments, mathematics, literacy and additional needs.
The variety of assessment methods, which included individual presentations, group presentations, written assignments and poster production, allowed me to develop a wide range of skills.
These methods also contributed to me becoming a more confident and resilient learner. This degree has taught me how to be a ‘reflective’ practitioner, something that is vital when working in the early years sector.
As a result of my hard work and determination, I gained a 1st Class Honours Degree in Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status with the University of Wales Trinity St David’s.
With the knowledge, skills, experience and confidence I have gained from this degree, my opportunities have already expanded as a result.
I have just taken a new full-time job, starting up a brand new Cylch Meithrin from scratch. I am currently in the process of publishing my very own children’s story book, inspired by the sustainability module on this degree. I have been asked by Mudiad Meithrin to develop some continuing professional development material for practitioners on the topic of ICT.
The most exciting opportunity I have been afforded is the opportunity to sit on a Welsh Government task and finish group for curriculum development for the non-maintained sector.
I have also been approached by a local university to do some lecturing on their Childhood Studies degree, for this I will be taking inspiration from the wonderful lecturing team that taught me on this degree.
If it wasn’t for the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Early Years Education and Care degree I don’t feel I would have the skills or confidence to be able to tackle these new and exciting opportunities.
To find out more about the Early Years Courses please get in touch:-
with Glenda Tinney on g.tinney@uwtsd.ac.uk
01267 676605
