T Level Education and Early Years learner, Elissa, has gained new confidence and skills thanks to her success during work placements.
Starting on our Level 2 course, she has now progressed to the T Level thanks to her dedication and passion for the subject.
We caught up with Elissa in class to hear about her time at College, what she learned on placement, and how her experiences are shaping her future career in the Early Years sector.
What experiences have you had during your work placements?
“My placements have been really varied. I started in a tiny village school and then moved to a much bigger school in Canterbury, where they had over 30 children in a class.
“It’s been such a big difference going from a really small setting to a huge school with multiple classes in each year group, but that experience has been so valuable.
“You don’t know where you’ll end up as a teacher, so being able to experience both small village schools and big city schools has helped me understand how different children’s lives can be.”
How have work placements helped you grow professionally?
“Taking part in a work placement helped me understand exactly what I wanted to do with my career. I originally came into the course wanting to be a nanny, but being in placement completely changed my direction. I realised I wanted to be a primary school teacher instead, and that’s what I’m working towards now.
“In my first placement I was in a very small reception class with about nine children, and I saw the attachment the children had to their teacher. I loved the idea of really knowing the children, understanding them properly, knowing their families and being able to support them on a deeper level.
“That was the moment I thought, ‘This is what I really want to do.’ I wanted to teach, not just look after children, but support their learning and their lives.”
How has theory-based learning in College enhanced your placements?
“The theory learning we do has made me think a lot during my placements. As an example, we’ve looked at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. If a child hasn’t slept properly, how are they going to behave in class?
“If you understand that as a teacher, you don’t just see ‘bad behaviour’, you see what might be happening behind it. That’s something this course and my placements have really helped me understand, and I know that will make me a much better teacher.”
What do you like most about being on placement?
“What I love most about my placements is interacting with the children. In my first placement, because I was new, the children saw me more like a friend. They even called me ‘Big Elissa’ because there was a child called Elissa in the class.
“In my current placement, they call me ‘Miss’ and they come to me when they’re upset. I’ve built a much stronger attachment with them because I was there from the very start, and they see me as more of a teacher now. I really love that feeling of being someone they trust.
“My favourite thing to help with is maths. Right now they’re learning different ways of seeing numbers like four and five, and I love watching them suddenly understand it. You can literally see the moment it clicks. Helping them over and over again until they get it is such a good feeling.”
What’s been your biggest achievement in a placement?
“I’ve worked with one little boy who couldn’t even write his name when I first met him. I helped him practice over a few weeks, and one day I asked him to get a whiteboard and show me how he could write his name, and he just did it all by himself.
“That honestly melted my heart. He didn’t even realise how big of a deal it was, but I did, so I gave him a point on the class chart because I was just so proud of him.”
What are you proud of during your College studies?
“I was home educated from Year 7, so coming into College was a massive change for me. I felt ready for the change, and I was determined.
“When I explored College at the Open Day, it felt like somewhere I belonged. I just thought, ‘I can actually see myself here’.
“I help out at Open Days and I meet lots of other home-educated students. I always tell them that College is great, and that they will meet people in the same situation as them.
“Going from being home educated to being on a T Level and now going to university feels like a massive step up, and I’m really proud of that.”
How have the lecturers at College impacted you?
“My lecturers have made a huge difference to my life. I used to be really against going to university, but thanks to my success with my studies, I decided that studying further would make a difference to my career. I looked into it and realised I needed GCSE’s in Maths and English.
“I spoke to my lecturers and they showed me exactly what I needed to do. I completed extra courses at home and I’m about to do my exams now. Without them, I would never have known how to get the right qualifications.”
What’s the biggest benefit of doing a T Level qualification?
“Taking part in dedicated work placements has given me such a head start. When I went to the Canterbury Christ Church University Open Day, I remember thinking I already understood so much of what they were talking about because I’ve had two years of real experience.
“Some people will go into university having never stepped foot in a classroom, but I’ve already built relationships with children and had real responsibilities. These experiences have been used in my exams as well, and it’s given me so much confidence.”
What do your future goals look like?
“In five years, I see myself as a primary school teacher. I think I worked out I’ll have my first class by the time I’m 22.
“I’d love to work in a Reception class because I really love Early Years, but I’m also excited to experience different year groups because placements have taught me how valuable that is.
“This course hasn’t just helped me academically, it’s given me direction, confidence and belief in myself.
“It really has paved the way for my future, and I wouldn’t be where I am without the course, the placements and the support from my tutors.”
Thanks to Elissa for sharing her experiences. It’s great to see how studying a T Level has enabled her to flourish in her course and in a variety of work placements.
If her experience has inspired you, consider applying for our Education and Early Years courses today, including our T Level.
More articles
What career could I get after completing the Level 2 Sports Coaching course?
Where could a T Level in Management and Administration take you?
