LMP Education is proud to partner with Oasis Community Learning providing tailored apprenticeship training programmes to develop their staff. Since 2018, LMP has supported over 600 apprenticeships across the Oasis trust nationwide.
Oasis Academy Clarksfield use apprenticeships to recruit new talent and develop the careers of existing staff members. Working together with LMP, Oasis Academy Clarksfield has training many apprentices through LMP Education, including Early Years Educators, Teaching Assistants, Sports Teaching Assistants, School Office Administrators and Safeguarding Support Officers.
The school’s Principal Rebecca Howard explains the positive impact of using apprenticeships and working with LMP Education, she said:
“At Oasis Academy Clarksfield we are passionate about growing our own talent. The LMP apprenticeships programme enables us to recruit and train people in line with our school’s values and culture in a cost-effective way. We have found this has significantly increased staff retention in a climate of recruitment crisis within education.
Working with LMP has been brilliant. The support they offer every apprentice is incredible, the learning they access plus 1:1 bespoke support is second to none. As a school, LMP support us well to match ideal candidates to specific roles and then ensure the candidates have everything they need to be successful. We couldn’t ask for more!”
One apprentice from Oasis Academy Clarksfield who was able to develop from her apprenticeship is Miriam. She started as a Teaching Assistant apprentice and gained a permanent role at the school as an LSA after completing her programme. She then continued to a Safeguarding Support Officer apprenticeship. Rebecca explains “Being in a school that is passionate about professional development, Miriam did not stop there and continued her passion for learning by enrolling on a further apprenticeship to train to become an apprentice safeguarding officer.”
Miriam shared her story with us:
“The Oasis school I am currently working at gave me a personal development opportunity by creating a pastoral role for me within the school. When the principal at my school found out about the Safeguarding Support Officer apprenticeship programme, she informed me about and expressed that it would be an amazing opportunity for me to combine both the pastoral side to the safeguarding aspect as they tie in very well with each other. This apprenticeship was another great opportunity to develop my skills and knowledge.
The main benefit of completing an apprenticeship is that it is very hands on. You can get stuck in straight-away and you get paid whilst doing it. You are learning so many skills and broadening your knowledge whilst getting a wage and a qualification. It is perfect if you are someone who doesn’t do well when it comes to written exams.
I have been supported thoroughly by both my school and my LMP tutor.
My line manager, who is the school’s DSL, is always ensuring that I am getting allocated time for me to complete assignments as well as supporting me with any case examples that would help me with my assignments. My LMP tutor tailors the task brief so that it is easier for me to understand and complete. He is always a text or email away if I have any questions no matter how small. The support from both Oasis and LMP are what keeps me resilient and confident in completing my apprenticeship.
In my role at the school, I have created a safe and approachable environment where children are aware of my role and responsibility within the school and can comfortably disclose any issues no matter how big or small. Because I do lunch duty every day at the school, the children see me as a consistent trusted adult who they can rely on to help sort out any issues or worries they may have.
The most valuable skill I have learnt from my apprenticeship is the different styles and types of communication. This is important to me as all children are unique, and one style of communication will not be effective for all children. It’s important to know the children you are supporting and the best way to do that to ensure that you are creating emotional safety and clear boundaries that encourage the children to communicate the things that may be difficult for them to express and then eventually when that trust and consistency is formed, they will be able to find communicating things much easier.
After completing my apprenticeship my next career steps are to be a Year Team leader in a secondary school as the role ties in a lot with safeguarding as well as pastoral.”
Discussing Miriam’s impact, Rebecca added “Miriam works with some of our most vulnerable children alongside our DSL. Having Miriam as an apprentice Safeguarding Support Officer has enabled us to increase our capacity within the safeguarding team and to ensure children get very personalised support in the form of 1:1 pastoral session to support them with safeguarding issues that have been identified.”
Miriam concludes: “my advice for anyone who is thinking of starting an apprenticeship programme is to pick the right programme for them, do your research and ensure that it is the one that best suits you. Think about what you want to do in the future, what field of work you would like to work in and choose an apprenticeship that can help create a stepping stone for you to reach that future goal.”
Thank you for sharing your inspiring story, Miriam!
If you are interested in working with LMP Education to develop apprenticeships at your organisation, book a discovery call with the LMP team today!
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