Woodlawn Classroom Assistants Celebrate Level 3 Success Through Council-Funded Academy
Three dedicated classroom assistants from Woodlawn Primary School in Carrickfergus are celebrating after successfully completing their Level 3 Teaching and Supporting Learning in Schools qualification.
Lesley, Diane and Meghan achieved the qualification through the Classroom Assistant Upskilling Academy, funded by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and delivered by People 1st.
Completed alongside their roles at Woodlawn Primary School, the fully funded programme enabled the three women to strengthen their knowledge, develop practical skills and gain a recognised qualification directly relevant to their work supporting children in the classroom.
The achievement is an important personal milestone for each participant, but it has also created benefits for the pupils, teaching staff and wider school community at Woodlawn.
Putting Learning into Practice at Woodlawn Primary School
Woodlawn Primary School has approximately 140 pupils across six mainstream classes and three specialist units. Principal Kathryn McClean believes its classroom assistants are pivotal members of the school team.
“In a primary school like ours, we couldn’t do without our classroom assistants,” Kathryn said. “Their role is so important, and they are highly valued members of staff.”
After receiving information about the Academy, Kathryn shared the opportunity with the school’s classroom assistants. Lesley, Diane and Meghan decided to take the next step in their professional development and enrolled on the programme.
Beginning in September and concluding in March, the Academy combined online evening classes with written assignments and workplace observations. This allowed the participants to continue working while connecting their studies directly to situations they encountered in school.
“Doing the course alongside work enabled them to put theory into practice, and I think that is invaluable,” Kathryn explained.
“They could relate their assignments back to real-life experiences and things they were already doing in the classroom. It was relevant, practical learning-not a qualification they might only use at some point in the future.”
A New Direction for Lesley
For Lesley, 38, completing the qualification represented another important step in a major career change.
After experiencing medical redundancy, Lesley began working in education, initially gaining experience in a post-primary setting and through substitute classroom assistant work. She joined Woodlawn Primary School in August and now supports children in P1.
Lesley had been preparing to pay privately for a Level 3 course when the fully funded Academy opportunity became available.
Although returning to education after a gap of approximately 18 years initially felt daunting, the online evening format helped her balance studying with her work and family responsibilities.
The practical relevance of the course quickly became clear. Lesley particularly valued learning alongside classroom assistants from different schools and educational settings. Group discussions allowed participants to share different experiences and explore approaches to supporting pupils with a wide range of needs.
She now uses elements of the course in her work every day.
For Lesley, some of the greatest rewards come from seeing children make progress in ways that may appear small to others but represent significant achievements for the individual child. Her loveliest example involved helping a P1 pupil who had struggled to write his name. With patient support, he managed to complete a description of himself—showing her how meaningful even apparently small steps can be.
“It’s the simple things-seeing them flourish,” she said. “You see their progress and feel like you’re part of it.”
After enjoying the experience, Lesley is keen to continue developing professionally and explore further training opportunities.She is eager to undertake further professional development, potentially in special educational needs.
Flexible Learning and Shared Experience
Meghan, who works with pupils across P6 and P7, brought previous experience from childcare and daycare settings to the Academy.
The funded online programme gave her an opportunity to gain a qualification that complemented her present role while remaining manageable alongside work and family life.
Meghan found the collaborative classes particularly valuable. Participants came from different schools and worked with children of different ages and abilities, allowing everyone to benefit from a much broader range of experiences.
Recorded teaching sessions also enabled participants to revisit the course content when completing assignments or checking specific information.
Meghan praised the support provided throughout the programme, particularly when participants encountered changing personal or professional circumstances.
“You’re so well supported,” she said. “Everybody had different circumstances crop up throughout the course, and Jennifer adapted the support to what each person needed.”
The learning will also support Meghan as she continues working with her pupil through the important transition from P6 into P7.
Finding a Calling at Almost 45
For Diane, the achievement has been particularly transformative.
Diane joined Woodlawn Primary School in August as a general classroom assistant before progressing into a one-to-one support role in P1. She had not previously worked professionally with children but soon discovered how much she valued the role.
Her return to learning was not straightforward. Diane’s own experience of education had left her with little confidence in her academic ability. When she was at school, pupils who found learning difficult did not always receive the additional help now available in classrooms.
Joining online lessons, using a laptop and uploading assignments all presented new challenges at the beginning of the programme.
With patient support from People 1st tutor Jennifer and encouragement from Lesley and Meghan, Diane persevered. Her confidence gradually grew as she completed each stage of the qualification.
She also continued studying while supporting her father through dementia. During an incredibly difficult period in her family life, working with the children and progressing through the course gave Diane an important sense of focus and purpose.
“At the age of nearly 45, I have found my calling,” Diane said. “I did it, and I am absolutely proud.”
Receiving full funding was also essential. Without the Academy, the cost of completing the qualification independently would have placed it beyond Diane’s reach.
She now enthusiastically encourages others to explore the training and development opportunities available through People 1st.
Growing Confidence and Professional Recognition
Kathryn believes the benefits of the Academy extend beyond the technical knowledge gained through the qualification.
For people who may not have studied for 10, 15 or even 20 years, achieving a recognised Level 3 qualification can significantly improve confidence, self-esteem and professional identity.
“There is an important element of making classroom assistance a professional job,” Kathryn said. “From my perspective as a school leader, it is a very valued role.
“When somebody receives a certificate and can say, ‘I earned that through my own hard work,’ it empowers them and improves how they feel about themselves.”
The fully funded nature of the programme was particularly important, opening professional development to classroom assistants who might not otherwise have been in a position to pay for the qualification.
Fully Funded Training Creating a Lasting Impact
The achievements of Lesley, Diane and Meghan demonstrate how accessible, employment-focused learning can benefit individuals and the organisations in which they work.
Through flexible delivery, practical teaching and personalised support, the Classroom Assistant Upskilling Academy enabled all three women to complete their qualifications without stepping away from their important roles at Woodlawn Primary School.
Their success also provides a powerful example of the impact that investment in local skills can have across workplaces and communities.
People 1st is proud to deliver the Classroom Assistant Upskilling Academy with funding from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and to support dedicated classroom assistants like Lesley, Diane and Meghan as they develop their skills, confidence and careers.
Visit https://www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/business/business-mid-and-east-antrim/employment-and-skills-support/labour-market-partnership to find out more about what is on offer across the council area.
Visit https://www.woodlawnps.co.uk/ to learn more about the school and what it offers!!
Find out more about our upcoming academies here and join the Up-skilling waiting list:
https://people-1st.co.uk/programmes/academies/
