Learning life skills is just the job
Duo are ready for success thanks to apprenticeships
A Foundation Apprenticeship course has helped two students to take their first steps in a career in early learning and childcare.
Alisha Mccallum (17) and Alexander Mcbroom (17), both former Bannockburn High School pupils, took the decision to study for a two year Foundation Apprenticeship in Social Services: Children and Young People, while still at school.
Their new qualification – which is the equivalent of two Highers – has landed them Modern Apprenticeship roles with Stirling Council. Foundation Apprenticeships (FAS) are available at Forth Valley College (FVC) in a range of subjects from Social Services and Healthcare to Children and Young People and from Business Skills to Engineering. They have been developed by Skills Development Scotland (SDS) in partnership with employers, colleges and Sector Skills Councils to create stronger links between education and industry.
They combine academic learning with handson skills to develop the knowledge, skills and work experience that will help to broaden options for students, enabling them to go on to complete a Modern Apprenticeship (MA), attend college or university or go directly into employment.
Alisha from Plean, said: “Making the decision to do my Foundation Apprenticeship in Childcare has benefited me by giving me the opportunity to do a Modern Apprenticeship with Stirling Council in a local nursery for the next two years. I would have never managed to get this opportunity if I had not chosen to study my FA at Forth Valley College.
“Doing this course has opened so many doors and opportunities for me that I did not expect to have at the age of 17. The course has given me a future and a profession that I love and now a job that I am looking forward to attending for the first time in mid-august.
“I will be working as early childhood educator whilst completing my SVQ Level 3 in childcare twice a month, at a college in Glasgow.
“Working in the nursery full-time will give me more skills, experience and build my strengths, which I am looking forward to.”
Alexander from Stirling, said: “FVC has helped me a lot while progressing in my career. The FA was a first step to becoming a qualified practitioner.
“It gave me the confidence and motivational skills to become ready for my Modern Apprenticeship. Having a three-day placement in a nursery, allowed me to come to the conclusion very early on, that this was what I wanted to do.
“I am extremely excited to start my new chapter in my career in August and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. My role as a MA will be enabling all children in the nursery to develop to their full potential.
“I would recommend Foundation Apprenticeships to anyone. You gain amazing extra experience while still doing your school exams. The ability to go out to a workplace and get more experience than anywhere else, while still attaining a qualification equivalent to two Highers is great as well. I also made new friends from other schools that you wouldn’t have been able to do before and that is also a great part of studying.
“You can also use the FA experience for applications to university, college and gaining good experience to write in personal statements and job applications.”
Barbara Johnstone, FVC Early Learning and Childcare lecturer, said: “Both Alexander and Alisha have done incredibly well during their FA and have worked tirelessly throughout.
“They were fully supported by Bannockburn Primary and Nursery to give them the workplace experience needed. Lockdown did not stop their enthusiasm to complete their course and I’m delighted that they have both secured a Modern Apprenticeship with Stirling Council.”
For more information on Foundation Apprenticeships at FVC and the application email: schools.coordinator@forthvalley. ac.uk or visit https://www. forthvalley.ac.uk/waysto-study/foundationapprenticeships/