When Pamela Thomas was looking for a stepping stone into a teaching assistant career, she found the perfect solution right on her doorstep – at Telford College.
Pamela, from Lawley, had been working as secretary of her husband’s business while her children were young.
“I became interested in supporting teaching and learning as when my son was first adopted, we had a very shaky start,” she said.
“He had attachment issues that we had to work through. This gave me inspiration to help other children in similar situations.”
After an online search, Pamela found just what she was looking for – a supporting teaching and learning course at Telford College.
She has already completed the level two programme, and moved onto level three, and is now working on the Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning.
“The course gave me confidence and support to find a job. It has given me knowledge that I can use within a workplace and I’ve met some lovely people along the way.”
To anyone else considering the supporting teaching and learning courses at Telford College, she says: “If it is something you really have a passion for, go for it!
“What I enjoy about the level three course is that it is more in depth, and delves more into the psychological side of child development than the introductory course.
“I am also picking up tips on how to support children in the best way, which is fundamental to my new position.
“The past year has been quite strange due to Covid, and we’ve been learning remotely as a class. This has not hindered us in any way though, and we’ve carried on from home.”
Lecturer Rachel Edwards said: “We have now started a new level three diploma in supporting teaching and learning, aimed at employed teaching assistants.
“Schools want to maximise the benefit of teaching assistants in the classroom our level three course really focuses on supporting children with special educational needs by helping the teaching assistant to see why a strategy will work with a child or group.”
Rachel added: “Pam has grown in confidence and was quickly snapped up by a local secondary school, where she has now begun working full time as a teaching assistant.”
Has remote learning with your children during the pandemic inspired you to work with children or you want to find more about education? If so, check out Telford College’s courses, at www.telfordcollege.ac.uk.
