Level 2 Teaching Assistants inspiring story

The WEA works in partnership with a children's centre in South Tyneside, and we offered a course to parents to help them become teaching assistants. This was a face-to-face course, starting in January 2020, and then COVID hit, which scuppered everybody’s plans. The teaching moved online, which caused most learners to pause their study, because they didn’t have the digital skills or access, or perhaps the headspace, with all that was going on.

Christina, Emma, Sarah, Sarah, and Tanja were determined to continue and we worked quickly to get them set up on Canvas and Zoom, with only basic digital skills. The learners all homeschooled their children and had to cope with lockdown and their children's mental health. Some are single parents living in poverty. Some lost relatives during the pandemic. They had to work late into the night, often using their mobile phones to finish the course.

They stuck with it and achieved their Level 2 Certificates. They supported each other. It would have been easier for them to walk away - they were all coping with so much. But they were there for each other, every step of the way. They already had a WhatsApp group for support outside our sessions, but after lockdown they also set up a Zoom group and met each week to support anyone who was struggling, whether with study or emotional problems.

They'll make great teaching assistants. To be honest, if they can get through that, they’ll get through anything. Not only have they learned new skills on the course, as well as making confident Zoom presentations, but they have also shown themselves to be very creative at teaching their children at home under pressure.

They had starting thinking about their futures and making a life for themselves. COVID wasn’t going to get in the way. They wanted this qualification so badly as it will allow them to apply for jobs that will make a considerable difference to their families’ lifestyles. They are resilient and remarkable women.

Video transcript: Emma
My name is Emma

Sarah
My name's Sarah and we've been nominated for the WEA Student Group Award.

Sarah
My WEA journey started from a leaflet that was given to me in my local play group. It began with the introductory course which I did at the local children's centre. Obviously found that good hence why I did the main course.

Emma
I started my journey for a friend my a friend told us about it, so I tried the introduction course at the children's centre as well and I really really enjoyed it. I loved it, I loved just achieving something for myself.

Sarah
Yeah

Sarah
Well we kind of had the WhatsApp group before lockdown didn't we

Emma
We started a WhatsApp group while we were in lessons for any anybody that needed support when we were at home in between lessons but then when lockdown started we just...

Sarah
Relied on it a lot more

Emma
Yeah we used a lot more than set up a separate Zoom for one night a week and we didn't even have to talk about the work we're just talking about the day and stuff, just to just to relax

Sarah
Yeah, even how we were coping with like the kids learning at home just literally and it was like one of them, like them like as much as it was for the course as well it was almost like you're having a bad day, don't worry we've got you, it was nice.

Sarah
Oh my god guys i've achieved something.

Emma
Not only achieved the course but then to get put forward for an award like this it was like it was really really amazing.

Sarah
It's really humbling, as if it weren't good enough that we actually made it through lock down, and that we've actually been awarded for how we've done it as well it's just it's amazing.