An aspiring teacher has taken the first step towards her dream job with a new City of Bristol College higher education course.
26-year-old Emily Hudson is one of the first students to start the college’s new FdA in Educational Support and said how it is benefiting her career already with the dedicated support and professional knowledge of her lecturers.
The Educational Support course is a foundation degree run in partnership with the University of the West of England (UWE). The full-time, two-year programme helps students to develop an understanding of the variety of roles played by professionals and practitioners in a range of educational settings.
The course will enable students to become accomplished, flexible practitioners who are able to respond to the needs of learners and enhance a range of professional, academic and lifelong learning skills, knowledge and understanding in support of workplace and academic learning.
Emily said: “Studying this course has enabled me to broaden my understanding of child development and has enabled me to provide better educational support to the children within my setting.
“City of Bristol College offered a course which was interesting to me and would hopefully enable me to progress in my career. It was advertised through my work and I knew it would be beneficial for my professional development.”
Emily hopes the course will expand her understanding and knowledge of how to further support children within an educational setting.
To participate in the course, Emily and other learners needed to have two years’ experience of working in an education environment which could include working with children, young people of adults. They also needed to gain their literacy and numeracy qualifications.
When Emily’s class complete the foundation degree, they will be able to progress to an honours degree in Education in Professional Practice through UWE.
Emily said: “Studying a foundation degree level has been an adjustment, however I have really enjoyed learning new topics and being able to apply them to my own role.
“My favourite part of the course has been how it has enabled me to meet other practitioners who are able to offer a different insight into a variety of educational backgrounds.
“I would definitely recommend this course. It has enabled me to broaden my understanding of child development and this has allowed me to provide better educational support to the children in my job.”
Emily hopes to move onto a PGCE – teaching qualification – after she completes the City of Bristol College foundation course.
Find out more about the FdA Educational Support course and apply here.
