In February 2020, 10 students started the SWAP – Access to Childhood Studies course delivered by Ayrshire College in The Carrick Opportunities Centre in Girvan.
SWAP is the Scottish Wider Access Programme aimed at supporting adult learners into Higher Education and is specifically designed for adults who are returning to education after a gap, and who have the motivation and ability to go on to study at university or for a higher-level qualification at college. Students were drawn to this course as it was local, and it worked around school hours. Due to covid restrictions a large part of the course was delivered online with students being supported to do so with access to laptops and online support. As restrictions began to ease the students returned to face to face learning one day a week whilst the rest of the course was delivered online. This wasn’t easy for students, but they supported each other and worked hard to complete the course.
On successfully completing the SWAP programme, Ayrshire College delivered a ‘Preparation for Childhood Studies course. This course supported the SWAP learners in preparing for an HNC course. Five of these students progressed on to the HNC Childhood Studies course and another 8 learners joined.
All 13 students have successfully passed the course and are now fully qualified Early Years’ Practitioners. The students described this course as “life changing” and said that if it weren’t for this course, they would either be unemployed or working in a job that they didn’t enjoy, and which was unfulfilling. The students are very grateful for the support that they received from Ayrshire College staff and South Ayrshire Council’s Thriving Communities team who supported learners from the start of their journey and continue to do so as they now progress into employment. Students had the opportunity to go on a placement to gain experience and to build their confidence one student said that “placement has given me a vast amount of knowledge and experience”. The students have grown throughout this course in many ways with one student saying, “this course have given me the confidence to believe in myself for the first time ever.” Elizabeth Lyon the lecturer for the course has said “I am thrilled at the hard work, determination and commitment the students have shown and I am so proud of their success throughout this educational journey”.
One student is furthering their learning and is moving on to university to Study Primary Teaching and feels that this course has giving them the confidence to progress on to university. All other students have signed up to South Ayrshire Councils Thriving Communities Employability and Skills programme where they will receive support to secure a career in Early years.