01550 760400Val started working at Coleg Elidyr as a Learning Support Worker (LSW). She started her career without much experience working in education but quickly made an impact. Val was enthusiastic, intelligent and ready for a challenge.
Progressing from LSW to tutor
Val exceeded expectations in her role as an LSW and was soon working her way up to provide higher level support to learners. With some encouragement from colleagues she was encouraged to apply for a tutor position. In 2023 Val became a tutor, as part of this role Elidyr Communities part-funded her to do her post graduate certificate in education (PGCE) to
support her teaching development.
Studying for the PGCE alongside working at Coleg Elidyr
Living in Llandovery, Val did the PGCE course remotely and face-to-face at Coleg Sir Gâr. She reflects that going back to an academic environment and academic writing was challenging, as was being one of the more mature students on the course. However, Val had already got lots of practical experience under her belt with our learners, which stood her in good stead.
Val said, “Coleg Elidyr encourage professional development and so it was a useful opportunity to pursue a teaching qualification. In the first year of the course you learn to embed a lot of theory into your practice. In the second year, there is a lot of reflective work on your own practice. The opportunity to share schemes of work was an invaluable insight for me to look at how my peers approach their teaching or training roles."
Val's approach to teaching raises the bar!
She might have picked up insights from others but Val's approach is already appreciated by colleagues and learners at Coleg Elidyr. The nickname Professor Morse was given by learners in celebration of her science sessions, where she dons a white coat and uses engaging teaching methods such as exploding volcanoes with the help of Bob the skeleton.
Why Coleg Elidyr invests in training for staff
Val's PGCE was supported both financially and practically by Elidyr Communities Trust. She was given time out of her timetable to study and complete assignments and the course was part funded by the organisation.
Geraint Wadley, Head of Education & Inclusive Lives said, "We want our staff to develop. This is an organisation that spots talent and hard work and looks to offer opportunities to encourage staff to continue their journey with us. Val worked extremely hard to get her PGCE and we'll all be celebrating with her when she graduates."
Aspiring for the best opportunities for learners and staff
We help our learners and residents to build lives full of meaning and purpose and we aspire to do the same for our staff.
Val concludes, "You’re never too old to do something like this, embrace it and the support that comes with it, I had self-doubt, I wasn’t confident at the start of this year - but I've done it!"
As part of her project work Val researched the impact of visual resources on learner engagement. This work was so successful, it is being trialled at Coleg Sir Gâr next year.
Well done Val, we are extremely proud of you.