EYE SUPPLEMENT Student Spotlight: Learning Online

TELL ME ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING NOW

I am currently pursuing a BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies (Top Up) at the University of Derby. I chose the two-year, part-time course and am currently in my second year of study (from October 2023 until September 2024).

I am working on my dissertation investigating the demand for funded childcare in Northern Ireland. There is currently no funding for children to attend childcare in Northern Ireland.

In addition, I work 20 hours a week as the deputy manager for Bangor Abbey Preschool.

I am in charge of the playgroup class, which serves children aged two years and ten months until they are ready to go to pre-school.

My dissertation topic is significant to me because my profession depends on parents enrolling their children in our setting; but, as the cost of living continues to rise, an increasing number of parents are, understandably, choosing not to send their children to these types of settings. This puts my and others’ jobs in jeopardy.

However, providing subsidised childcare is critical not only for employment retention in the sector but also for early intervention for children.

Studies have found children who attend a formal setting from an early age achieve better outcomes in the long term.

When I am not studying or working, I have two children: Charlie, ten, and Lucy, eight. They keep me busy by helping them with their homework, taking them to clubs, and spending time together as a family.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO TAKE THIS PARTICULAR ROUTE INTO WORKING IN EARLY YEARS?

I’ve always known I wanted to work with children. I aspired to be a primary school teacher at first, but my aspirations have changed with time.

My journey into early years began in 2008 when I began an early years degree at a university in Belfast; but, due to personal circumstances, I was only able to complete two of the three years. I graduated with a diploma in higher education and started working as a childminder.

During this period, I researched many courses to finish my degree, but none of them were appropriate. When I had my son, I chose to take time off from work to focus on him. When my daughter was born, I was able to find work in the crèche of a local women’s centre. The positives of this employment allowed me to bring my children with me; yet, this position turned out to be an unpleasant experience that made me doubt whether working with children was the appropriate path for me. The job eroded my self-esteem, and I developed some mental health concerns as a result.

I left my job and planned to spend more time with my children and recover my confidence. When my youngest was ready for primary school, I chose to get back into the workforce. This is when I obtained my employment at Bangor Abbey Preschool. After a year of working here, the position of deputy manager became available. Previously, I would never have considered applying for this position, but the staff at Bangor Abbey encouraged me to believe that I could accomplish more. I was successful in gaining the post; however, I quickly realised that my diploma was not acknowledged as a Level 5.

I had to decide whether to leave the position or finish my degree. I applied for several courses before deciding on the University of Derby.

I’m really glad I made this decision. Online education might be daunting, but the tutors are incredibly encouraging and can be reached via email if necessary. The architecture of each module is simple to follow, you get plenty of feedback on tasks, and the live sessions help you with anything you’re unsure about.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST THING YOU HAVE LEARNT THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE?

During the past two years, the biggest thing I have learnt is that if I challenge myself, I can achieve. I have learnt to push myself out of my comfort zone. I never thought I would complete my degree, nor did I ever think I would be any good at it!

The support the tutors have provided and the feedback they give has helped me in my journey.

With their support and feedback, I have been able to build on my confidence and realise that not only can I achieve better grades than expected but I can also achieve outside my degree in my workplace.

The format of online learning can be daunting as you need to motivate yourself and ensure you have good time management. I feel the layout of the course is helpful with this, as it breaks down the learning into weeks. This allows you to decide if you want to focus on your learning on a week-to-week basis, or if you want to fit more into one week, you can.

I have surprised myself by being able to manage a good work/life/study balance. I am in a fortunate position where my job finishes at 1pm and my children finish school at 3pm, and therefore I have that two-hour period I can dedicate to study.

I just need to make sure I motivate myself to use this time, as it can easily get away from you when certain life situations crop up!

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER STUDENTS/APPRENTICES CURRENTLY STUDYING OR WORKING IN THE SECTOR?

My advice to others is to never give up, no matter how difficultthe situation. Working in the early childhood sector can be hard. You may become frustrated, agitated, or defeated. There is a high demand for early childhood educators, which can lead to these feelings. However, when you consider the outcomes for the children, it becomes evident why it is worthwhile.

The children in my setting attend from September to June, and the transformation I witness in them over this time is remarkable. It makes the job worthwhile knowing that I played a little role in each child’s development.

On the toughest days, all it takes is one child to do something they have battled with, to transform the day from difficult to worthwhile.

When it comes to studying, I have instances when I am unmotivated, especially if I am struggling with a particular module. Anyone who decides to study will realise that they enjoy some modules but dislike others. When you enjoy something, it’s easy to stay motivated; yet, when you’re struggling, things are different. I’ve discovered that setting weekly goals for myself helps me handle a particular module when I’m struggling with it.

Reaching out to others in your course can also be beneficial because it can help with topic comprehension, and the knowledge that someone else is in the same situation can provide comfort.

The online live streams are useful for getting to know others within your course. The course leaders also hold ‘coffee sessions’ that allow you to drop in and ask questions. These can be extremely helpful for keeping you on track or providing an outlet for frustrations.

In both my work and my studies, I’ve discovered that not giving up has shown me how much more I can do than I thought possible. I’ve challenged myself and seen the results. Anyone unsure about pursuing education and employment at the same time should think about it; it is far more manageable than you might believe.

WHAT ARE YOUR INTENDED NEXT STEPS AFTER THIS?

I am currently enjoying the job position that I am in and would love to help the setting grow and expand.

I have considered after finishing my degree to go on to get a teacher qualification; however, I have not fully decided on this as it requires a placement, which at this time may not be suitable.

I do enjoy the job I am currently in and believe I still have lots more to learn from those around me. I hope opportunities to challenge myself futher will arise and I will have the confidence to act on them. One day I may even open my own pre-school! eye

WHICH FIGURES IN THE SECTOR DO YOU FIND MOST INPIRING AND WHY?

Numerous figures in the sector have achieved and continue to accomplish impressive results. However, the people I truly appreciate are everyday childcare workers who give their all.

The childcare business underpays and frequently undervalues its employees. Most often, they work long hours for minimum wage, which can prove difficult.

Those individuals inspire me the most; they work hard and seek thebest outcomes for the children, yet frequently receive little acknowledgement.

It takes a lot from a person to continually think of innovative ideas to keep children engaged.