Lydia Davey’s Journey: From Retail to Early Years Education with UWTSD

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) is delighted to celebrate the achievements of Lydia Davey, a recent graduate whose story is one of rediscovered passion and determination, culminating in her successful completion of the Early Years programme at UWTSD.

From a young age, Lydia had a strong interest in working with children. However, upon finishing college, she lacked the confidence to apply for university and embarked on a four-year career in retail, temporarily setting aside her ambitions. The birth of her brother, with an 18-year age gap between them, rekindled her passion for childcare. “I always enjoyed helping to care for him and spending time with him,” Lydia recalls. “During the COVID-19 lockdown, I realised that working with children was the field I truly wanted to be in.”

In 2021, after three months into a full-time job at an opticians, Lydia decided she couldn’t continue in a job that didn’t bring her joy. She contacted UWTSD and received guidance on the courses available and the application process. “After a short time, I was accepted into the Early Years programme,” Lydia says. “I chose UWTSD because of the high outcomes for the course I was interested in. Living in Llanelli, the convenience of the Swansea and Carmarthen campuses was also a significant factor in my decision.”

The comprehensive nature of the Early Years programme attracted Lydia. “After speaking to Dr Glenda Tinney about the course and learning about what it entails, I chose this course because it opens up a wide range of opportunities, especially with the practitioner status side of the degree,” she explains.

Lydia’s aims were clear: to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to work confidently with young children and to open up new career opportunities in early childhood education. The highlights of the course for Lydia included the vast amount of knowledge she acquired and the friendships she made. “Personally, the highlights of the course were the amount of knowledge I have acquired and making a great group of lifelong friends,” she shares.

A significant part of Lydia’s studies was the practitioner status option, which required completing 700 hours of experience with young children. This hands-on experience proved invaluable. “All of the experience has made my confidence grow and equipped me well for the future,” Lydia says.

Balancing studies and practical experience presented challenges, but Lydia’s dedication and the support from UWTSD helped her overcome them. “I would recommend this course to others because of the great support from all of the lecturers, the lecture structure, and the small class sizes,” Lydia enthuses. “The course opens up a wide range of opportunities.”

The impact of the Early Years programme on Lydia has been profound, both professionally and personally. “This course has already helped me in so many ways,” she reflects. “After completing my 700 hours of placement, I was offered a job at the nursery where I was volunteering. I was also offered a position at a primary school I was volunteering at during my first year. Personally, I have gained a lot of confidence and have taken on opportunities I may not have before.”

Click here to find out more about our Youth Work, Early Years and Advocacy programmes.

Further Information

Arwel Lloyd

Principal PR and Communications Officer    
Corporate Communications and PR    
Email:  arwel.lloyd@uwtsd.ac.uk    
Phone: 07384 467076