Happy National Apprenticeship Week! Throughout this week we will be sharing stories from our current learners to celebrate their success. Today we have Brooke, an 18-year-old SEND Teaching Assistant apprentice from Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School. Brooke shared her story with us:
“I chose to do an apprenticeship because it allows me to gain practical experience in an educational setting and it has a positive impact on students learning. I also chose it because it’s a good first step to gaining more experience and knowledge for moving on further in the education system.
The benefits are hands on experience, more career opportunities, having a good impact on the students and allows to build connections with educators and people in the educational field.
The best thing about my role is helping the children develop and meet milestones. It’s very rewarding and very overall a lovely job. It’s a lovely environment and helping others learn is important.
In this programme I’ve been supported by my mentor is Kym Regan. She has been very helpful with answering any questions I’ve had, she’s very supportive and is always willing to word things differently so I understand fully. My employer has been helpful, when I’ve asked for some more time to allow me to do my apprenticeship this has been taken on board.
I would say the most important skill learnt in a TA apprenticeship is communication. For example, being able to clearly convey information, listen to students needs and be able to work with educators to achieve what’s needed and communication helps build a positive environment.
For my next step I would like to use the knowledge this apprenticeship has given me to advance in working with children. I’d like to move to a SEND school.”
Best of luck in your apprenticeship, Brooke!
Are you looking to get into education?
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