Mari Anderson

Why did you decide to apply for the PDA Education Support Assistant course?

I decided to apply for the course as a few people that I worked with at the time spoke positively about it and made it sound helpful for the job I had as a Learning Support Worker. I was new into the job and had limited knowledge on supporting children in schools other than what I learned from experience. I was unsure at first, as I hadn’t done any form of studying for around 10 years and was worried that I would find it difficult to study part time while working full time. My colleagues encouraged me, and I applied!

Can you tell us what you have enjoyed most about studying at UHI Shetland?

I have enjoyed the content of the course as I have learned a great deal of useful information that allows me to do my job and support children in an educational setting to the best of my ability while having important knowledge on why children have certain behaviours and how children develop and learn.

I have also enjoyed meeting the other people on the course as well, and having an insight into the other schools around Shetland.

What advice would you give someone who was interested in studying the course?

Go for it! I highly recommend that anyone who is interested in or already working as a learning support worker/assistant should do this course, as it has given me essential knowledge that I wouldn’t have gained if I hadn’t done this course.

I’d also say not to worry about the thought of studying if you haven’t studied for a while, as the lecturer and other students on the course are always willing to help out and get you back into the feel of it.

How has the course impacted your professional role?

This course has allowed me to understand more widely about how to support children of all ages and stages as well as the theories behind the practice. I have become more confident in my work and have even moved on to being part of a small learning team at the Shetland Museum and Archives since starting this course – working to develop workshops and learning opportunities for children and adults of all ages and stages. I wouldn’t have gotten this far without this qualification, so you never know where you might end up!