Bethanie Fulfilling Teaching Dream

Early Years and Education Lecturer Bethanie Glover had always dreamed of becoming a teacher since the age of four.

Continuing our focus on careers in FE during National Careers Week, we spoke to Bethanie about her passion for early years and childcare plus dealing with the overwhelming popularity of childcare courses in recent years.

Bethanie credits her teachers in Primary School for helping to shape the teacher she has become.

“In Primary School I met teachers who I wanted to be like, so it really shaped how I practice to this day, she said.

She went on to study Primary Education with QTS at Liverpool Hope University for four years before moving into teaching Early Years students.

Teaching isn’t just a vocation for Bethanie though, as she wants to embed life skills amongst her students which will help them alongside the qualification they will gain from studying at college.

Bethanie explained,

“For me it’s not what they come out with; I’m giving them a tool belt of all the different things they will need in their work and personal life.

“Our students in Childcare are qualified for jobs when they finish, but it’s about providing them with the relevant skills, being work-ready and adult-ready.

“Childcare is such a big responsibility and going into social care, and you are creating footprints for the next generation to care for children and young people in the future.”

Continued Professional Development is important in her role, and Bethanie has already achieved assessor qualification TAQA (Training Assessing and Quality Assurance) and recently been accepted to take on the Advanced Skills Teacher qualification.

While recognition is always welcomed, Bethanie points towards the ‘One Team’ ethos which is felt throughout the College and feeds into all of the Childcare team’s work, saying,

“It’s not about certificates, it’s about what we’ve built together.”

As previously mentioned, Childcare courses amongst many others, have seen unprecedented demand at Stoke on Trent College.

“We’ve recently introduced the T Level in Childcare, which is providing an alternative to those looking for a level 3 qualification. Childcare is often a popular choice with the combination of classroom learning and work experience, it can be challenging but exceptionally rewarding.

“Over the course duration, we prepare students for a high-pressure environment.

Having taught 4-year olds up to 34 year olds, Bethanie sees a lot of transferable skills no matter the age of your students.

“A lot of the strategies used in Early Years and Primary School’s are adaptable to any student.  I moved to teaching teenagers and it was very different, you have to adapt, but I love it. It gives you more transferable skills,” she said.

Bethanie also shared some advice about anyone considering a career in Early Years, saying,

“Don’t stick to one age range, explore it all because if one doesn’t fit you just aren’t where you want to be. You can adapt your skills to many different education roles. Also, have fun with it, you’re learning just as much as the students, and you can’t always be perfect.

Reflecting on her teaching journey so far, she believes that teaching is a true vocation and such a varied and rewarding career.

Find out more about Childcare courses at Stoke on Trent College.