Amandeep Singh, an adult student at Solihull College & University Centre has secured employment at a local Monkspath Nursery after impressing on work experience as part of her course.
Amandeep, 36 from Monkspath started studying at Solihull College & University Centre with her Level 2 in 2014, she topped up with GCSE’s last year, and completed her Level 3 course this year. By studying the Level 3 CACHE Childcare and Education (Early Years Educator) Diploma, students earn Early Years Educator status. Amandeep’s interest piqued when she attended a College open day and subsequently found her ideal course on the website.
Amandeep has completed her course whilst juggling a busy home life with 2 young boys. The ability to work her schedule around parenting has been a huge benefit. After originally working in a shop, she was taking her youngest son to nursery when she began considering a career in childcare. Noting how well her son was treated at the nursery she asked a manager there how she could embark on a route into working with children. The manager suggested she explored her options at Solihull College & University Centre. The idea appealed to Amandeep – ‘I needed to do something for myself again’ she states.
After embarking on her studies she excelled on the course. ‘The course was brilliant, a mix of ages and all different people created a perfect blend. I also found I could apply the teachings I learned to dealing with my own children on a personal level, I could apply it to my own life and learn how to manage and control a situation’.
The course covered a variety of topics, including safeguarding, illnesses in children and observing. Students have a variety of work based assessments with 365 hours of work experience in the year. On placement with a local nursery, Amandeep was asked to stay on as supply for 0-5 year old children. ‘It was great to learn from experienced people in the working environment of a nursery, I started applying things automatically’.
In terms of the new road her career has taken Amandeep had this to say, ‘If you want to work with children, you have to love working with children. I did, and I really enjoyed my course as a result. Both of my tutors were really helpful and supportive, they have been amazing’.
Helen Barber, Amandeep’s tutor stated, ‘Amandeep is really good at supporting her peers, she is willing to take time and research, this success it richly deserved. This is what early years is all about sharing experiences and giving our students the freedom to express themselves which they can then apply to future roles’.
Find out more about Solihull College & University Centre’s Early Years & Childhood Studies courses.
