Kerry Beale shares her journey on working within the early years and studying to graduate from the FdA Early Years (0-8 years) at the University of Worcester, highlighting that it’s never too late to return to your studies.
I began my Early Years career ten years ago as an apprentice, having taken a career break and changed my career path after the birth of my children. I discovered I enjoyed returning to education and managing my workload, despite having left school more than twenty years ago. This was surprising because I had never liked school and never thought I would return to studying due to a fear of failing. However, it has always been a dream of mine. After completing my Level 3 in Early Years, I realised how passionate I am about making a difference during these vital years. As a result, in 2022, I summoned the courage to express my interest in the FdA Early Years course despite struggling with impostor syndrome and uncertainty about balancing family life, work, and studying. However, Sam (the Course Leader) was very supportive and even arranged a Teams meeting to put my mind at ease and provided me with all the relevant information to get started.
I chose to study the course part-time as I struggle with feeling rushed. I attended the summer school, which was both nerve-racking and beneficial, as it allowed me to meet my peers and the excellent staff. Furthermore, this day made me realise that my dream could be accomplished not only to improve my practice but also to become a positive role model for my family.
I found the course to be very well-organised, and everything you study is directly applicable to your practice. However, a piece of advice is to stay organised and write deadlines in your diary so you don’t leave things until the last minute. This way, you can plan your life around when you will be busy. Also, try not to look too far ahead, as it can become overwhelming.
In my first year, I was finding my feet, and I experienced burnout towards the end of the academic year. However, in hindsight, this experience made me more resilient and helped me develop strategies to support myself in my second year. For instance, by setting aside a night off without feeling guilty, I reached out to the tutors for support, explored Blackboard and the tools it offers to help me succeed in my studies, and read a lot more, which helped me get my head around referencing and how to make it flow when writing.
During my three years of studying part time, I have experienced many highlights. I particularly enjoyed the research project, as it allowed me to explore gender inequality in early childhood. This shift in my perspective has encouraged me to advocate for equality and inclusion in both my daily life and professional practice. Attending face-to-face lessons was consistently engaging, and I always felt part of a broader Early Years community while seeking support from my peers and the knowledgeable staff, who are all an asset to the university.
This course has not only transformed my practice but also increased my confidence, allowing me to develop my own opinions and advocate for change within the early years sector. I have recently taken on the role of a senior practitioner, which shows the significant progress I have made in confidence and self-assurance. I have realised that, for someone initially afraid of higher education, I am not ready to stop learning, and I look forward to further improving my skills through the BA (Hons) Integrated Children and Families Top up degree in September.
If you’re interested in either of the courses that Kerry has mentioned, get in touch to begin your journey through Higher Education at the University of Worcester.
FdA Early Years (0-8 years) (HTQ), contact Course Leader, Samantha Sutton-Tsang: s.sutton-tsang@worc.ac.uk
BA(Hons) Integrated Working with Children and Families Top Up degree, contact Course Leader, Angela Hodgkins: a.hodgkins@worc.ac.uk