Two First Class Honours degrees are amongst the outstanding results being celebrated this week by the first ever students on the Loughborough College BA Hons Top up Degree in Education Studies course.
Amongst the thirteen students set to graduate after five years of study alongside work in playgroups and nurseries, many have seen a significant impact on their career.
“Playgroup and daycare practitioners have become owners or been promoted to manager, one is now a work-based learning assessor, some have moved to schools to work as teachers’ assistants and one is now preparing to train as a teacher,” said Kate Storr, Higher Education Coordinator for Caring Services at Loughborough College.
‘These students have progressed through Early Years Professional Status and a Foundation Degree in Children’s and Young People’s Services to complete their full BA Honours, all alongside their career and, often, while raising a family. We are incredibly proud of how hard they have worked and their tremendous achievement.”
Mandy Whitelocks is one of the students set to graduate from Loughborough College with First Class Honours. “Studying for my degree has made an enormous difference to me professionally and personally. I have learnt so much and my confidence has soared and I have no doubt that this will continue to be of real benefit to the children I care for, at work and at home.”
Mandy, who manages Sherard Pre-School Playgroup in Melton Mowbray (Mandy is pictured, top right, with her team) and has three children and four grandchildren, added, “My family expanded as I studied and now I can pass on my knowledge to new parents, including my own children and to my team. Three staff have now enrolled on the Foundation Degree.
“I feel I have really achieved something for myself and which will have a positive effect on so many other people. I can’t thank the Loughborough College tutors enough for their support.”
Kate Storr explained: “We offer evening options for learning as well as email and phone tutorials and all the resources are on the Virtual Learning Environment so we can support study as flexibly as possible. And Leicestershire County Council have been fantastic at backing this, they have funded most students and have pledged to continue that in September.”