Lakhwinder Kaur Engel chose to retrain as a Teaching Assistant to pursue a career that would fit around family life while allowing her to support children’s learning and development. After successfully completing a Level 2 Teaching Assistant course, she progressed onto the Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools at City of Wolverhampton College. Lakhwinder said:
“I wanted a career change that would work around caring for my children, and I had always been interested in teaching and supporting young people. After completing Level 2, progressing onto Level 3 felt like the natural next step.
“My school placement was a great experience. The staff were very supportive, and I developed valuable skills including communication, teamwork, organisation and working with children with different needs. It also gave me a real insight into what it’s like to work in a school environment.
“The course and placement helped to build my confidence. I was able to give relevant examples of my skills and experience during interviews, and I was delighted to secure employment within a school.
“One of the best things about the course was that the timetable worked well around my family commitments, allowing me to balance studying, placement hours and caring for my children.
“I hope to continue developing my knowledge and taking on more responsibilities within school. In the future, I would like to build a rewarding career helping children achieve their potential.
“I would recommend this course to anyone interested in working in education. It provides valuable experience, builds confidence and gives you the skills needed to progress into employment.”