I always knew that I wanted to work in the classroom and help children to be the best that they could be, but I just didn't know how to do it or have the confidence to make that change. After lots of searching for courses and upon a friend's recommendation I contacted the enrolment team at SGS and was greeted by friendly staff who sent me information about the course, what it would entail, for how long and what I would need to do to get started. It was really easy to enrol for the course and to gain access other information such as student loans/waivers etc that would help me on my learning journey.

As the time grew closer to me starting, I had several moments of doubt, being a mature student, having to balance work and family life, worrying about having relevant qualifications to start, would I get on with the other students on the course, would I be able to do the work and be good enough? I needn't have worried at all. After meeting my tutor (who was Anne Pill), things just naturally flowed. I remember meeting Anne in the foyer of the Filton Campus, with a few other students, all full of nerves but also a sense of excitement of what would follow. We were given a tour of the campus, taken for an induction session and had our photos taken for our student lanyards and that was that. Anne was so warm, caring and welcoming from the start, she immediately put any worries we had aside, she shared her own knowledge and experience and gave us such reassurance that I knew I had made the right decision and couldn't wait to get started.

Over the next few sessions, Anne explained how everything would work, helped us to set our goals not only with course content but what we personally wanted to achieve. We even completed a first assignment with confidence and ease. From the start, we all received support, not only from our tutor but from each other, setting up groups to be able to chat outside of college and making firm friendships that still stand to this day. Our assignments were always different and challenged us, they made us really think outside the box, asking why we wanted to become teaching assistants and to show the difference we could make, I really enjoyed these challenges, from written pieces, to group tasks, 1:1 meetings, discussions and evidence based observations at our work placement. I loved getting feedback, not only from Anne, but also from gathering witness testimonies from my peers, it really boosted my confidence, it was also great to compare experiences with others, to problem solve together and help each other to grow.

The course flew by, and before I could blink I had completed my Level 2 qualification, I was so proud of my achievements and that of my friends, it was sad to think that we wouldn't be spending that time together each week, needless to say, I signed up straight away for my level 3 qualification with some of my friends from the level 2 course, and during this time also secured employment as a teaching assistant in the school where I completed my placement, again the satisfaction from completing this course was immense, forging new lifelong friendships and also helping and supporting my friends who I recommended to take the course and now have teaching assistant roles of their own. This course literally changed my life, I was in a job that was going nowhere and gave me next to no family time, with the help from Anne and the team at SGS, I am now a level 3 qualified teaching assistant, doing what I thought I never would and am making the lives of not only my family, but some amazing children that I have the pleasure of working with a lot richer!

Am I glad that I chose SGS college to study with? Definitely, I would highly recommend them and the Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools course without a doubt, you have a great opportunity to be tutored and supported by a team that genuinely care, who want the best for you and really know what they are talking about. Is the course rewarding? Totally, you learn so much, about what you are going to do, but also about the differences in schools and how they operate, ways to support children, learning from others experiences and learning to challenge yourself; you develop your own skills as you go, make lifelong friendships, and get a nationally recognised qualification from it all. It is great for building confidence and challenging you to think outside of the box and do something amazing, you do have to put the work in but what you get from it is so rewarding you will never look back, the only time that I do is to wish I had done it sooner but also to remind myself of how I reached my goals and the great support network I had to do it with!