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New Learning Opportunities at Northern Regional College

Tuesday

Female standing in front of a park

Studying Childcare at Northern Regional College has created new learning opportunities and opened an exciting career path for science graduate, Uzma Ikram. Uzma studied Botany at the University of Peshawar in her native Pakistan before moving to Northern Ireland with her husband and three sons in 2018.

She always enjoyed working with children and, although she had plenty of experience from looking after her own young family, she did not have any formal childcare certification.

Uzma explained: “I needed to have an accredited childcare qualification to secure employment in a childcare setting in the UK, so I enrolled on the Level 3 Diploma in Childcare, Learning and Development at the College’s Newtownabbey campus. The College has a good reputation for childcare courses and when I visited the campus, I was inspired by the enthusiasm of the staff.”

As she completes this one-year full-time course, Uzma can say with confidence that it was ‘one of the most important steps in her life and career in terms of personal development’.

She had been worried about coping with the coursework and work placement since all her previous education experience had been in Pakistan but with the help of the supportive staff and other students in the class, Uzma soon got over any initial reservations.

“One of the toughest parts of the course was to get a placement in a childcare setting but I was very fortunate to have really supportive tutors and assessors who were always available to provide guidance if needed. As the weeks went by, I could see that I was making good progress.

“When you’re working in childcare, there are new experiences and challenges every day but, thanks to the support from my tutors and positive feedback from my assessor, I grew more confident in my ability.

During her work placements, Uzma was able to put in practice what she was learning in College.

“I really enjoy working with children and the placements gave me an opportunity to work with children of different age groups in a variety of childcare settings.

Uzma admitted that she did get stressed about her first assessment and workplace observation but when they both went well, she was able to use the assessor’s feedback to further improve her practice.

“The Level 3 Diploma in Childcare Learning and Development has given me the knowledge and skills needed to support the care and development of children and young people so I can now work as part of a professional childcare team.”

While at Northern Regional College, Uzma achieved other relevant qualifications, including Food Safety and Hygiene and Basic First Aid. She also completed ‘Mindset’, an Action Mental Health programme, sponsored by Barnardo’s, to help develop her knowledge about the mental and emotional health of children and young people.

“First Aid training and an understanding of the importance of food safety are both very important in childcare as they help people be more alert to potential risks and promote a sense of safety and well-being.”

Uzma said she would have no hesitation recommending the course to anyone hoping to work in childcare.

“Spending time with children is a great experience, full of love and entertainment. This course will give me an accredited Level 3 qualification to practice as an assistant in almost all childcare settings. Deciding to do the course was one of the most important steps in my life and career in terms of personal development.”

When she completes the course, Uzma hopes to secure employment in the sector but she is not ready to put away her books just yet. The experience of doing the Level 3 course has made even more determined to work in childcare and she hopes to get additional childcare qualifications. Next on her list is a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management.

Childcare and Early Years Assessor at the College, Veronica Jackson, said: ”Uzma is a pleasure to work with, displaying dedication to her coursework and to the children at her placements. It was lovely to see her confidence grow during the year. Her enthusiasm at supporting the children’s health, wellbeing, learning and development is apparent and I am sure she will be successful in this career in the future.”