‘Without ACT, I wouldn’t be where I am now’
THANKS to her apprenticeship with Wales’ leading training provider, ACT, 20- year-old Ellie Curtis has caught the learning bug, gained a promotion in her job and become an award-winning apprentice.
Growing up, Ellie always knew she wanted to pursue a career working with children, but felt lost in mainstream education and unsupported with her own learning needs. After securing a placement at Little Tigers Day Care in Rogiet, Ellie enrolled on a Level 3 Children’s Care, Learning and Development (CCLD) apprenticeship to gain a qualification and the practical experience she wanted at the same time.
“What I love most about working with ACT is that I am actually based in a setting learning. I’m not removed and just sat in a classroom writing. I prefer being hands on much more,” said Ellie.
With all of ACT’s training programmes, whether it is a traineeship, apprenticeship or higher apprenticeship, you can learn on the job, achieve nationallyrecognised qualifications, earn a wage, gain skills and build a rewarding career like Ellie.
Thoroughly enjoying the practical tasks and feeling hugely supported by her assessor, Ellie re-engaged with learning and completed her apprenticeship ahead of time. Having caught the learning bug, she immediately enrolled onto another qualification, this time a Level 3 Playwork apprenticeship.
“My assessor is so encouraging and gives positive feedback on how well I am progressing, which has really helped me. She reminds me of all the brilliant things that I’ve done and learnt. She really understands my blocks to learning and it’s so nice to have that one-on-one support,” said Ellie.
Since starting her apprenticeship learner journey, Ellie continues to excel and has taken on new responsibilities in her setting: she has been promoted to deputy manager and additional learning needs coordinator, and is now undertaking her Level 5 CCLD higher apprenticeship. These new qualifications and on the job experience have played an enormous part in Ellie’s progression to a senior management position.
Ellie said: “I know so much more now and feel confident in my understanding. Without the knowledge from the course and gaining the hands-on experience of working with the children, I wouldn’t be able to do the job I’m doing now.”
With ACT, Ellie was also able to undertake the Essential Skills Wales maths and English qualifications as part of her coursework. Having always struggled with maths at school, Ellie passed her exams on her first sitting and feels the support ACT has given her as played an enormous part in her success: “I really don’t think I’d have done as well as I have if ACT hadn’t been so open-minded. My assessor totally understands that one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to teaching.”
Commenting on her extraordinary learner journey, Ellie said:“Anyone can achieve their potential, if they’re given the right support. I recommend ACT to people all the time as without it I probably wouldn’t have got where I am now.”
ACT supports more than 6,500 young people to achieve their career ambition each year through vocational qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities and boasts some of the best training facilities in south Wales.
■ For more information about how ACT could help you build a rewarding career, visit: www.acttraining.org.uk