Aimee Fouracre – Learner of the Month: April

Why Aimee Chose the Apprenticeship.

Aimee always pictured herself working in a school. Growing up alongside siblings with Special Educational Needs shaped that goal and drew her to a SEND setting. During college she completed one hundred and twenty hours of work experience at Walton Leigh and loved it. The apprenticeship became the natural next step to formalise her skills and grow her impact.

Learning Experience and What Has Made the Biggest Difference.

Aimee is thriving because the programme is both hands on and educational. She loves being in class, building independence and watching students thrive. The Supporting Transitions module has been a game changer. It helped her understand different types of transitions, why they can be challenging and how to plan support strategies that reduce anxiety and keep learning on track.

Balancing Learning and Work.

Aimee keeps momentum by studying little and often. She aims for an hour of coursework each evening after work, then two to three hours on weekend days. Her tips for future apprentices are simple. Protect a social life. Limit yourself to a couple of hours a day. You have a month to complete each piece of coursework so it does not all need to happen in week one.

Proud Moments. 

Trust has been the standout theme. Seeing students look to her for support and lighting up when they get praise has been the most rewarding part so far. That recognition fuels her to keep refining her practice!

Impact in the Classroom.

Progress is visible. Students who started the year needing many verbal prompts now only need one prompt to get going and learners who completed one piece of work per lesson are now producing two or three pieces. Focus has improved. Routines feel smoother and transitions are calmer because expectations and strategies are clearer!

Future Goals.

Aimee plans to complete teacher training. The apprenticeship is giving her deeper classroom experience, real confidence and a strong foundation before University. She is building the skills, evidence and mindset to take that next step.

Manager Perspective.

Aimee’s school values apprenticeships because staff gain qualifications while earning and the whole team grows together. Aimee has been a real asset to the class team. As she has progressed through the modules her knowledge has grown and she shares it freely. She contributes ideas in team meetings, suggests behaviour and learning strategies to try, and feeds into ILP evaluations with clear examples of student progress. Her confidence has risen markedly from her early work experience days and her motivation is obvious in both her study and her classroom practice.

Outcomes for Students and Parents.

Students benefit from support staff who are learning the latest approaches and applying them daily. Parents gain confidence knowing their children are supported by staff who are committed to their own learning and to using up to date strategies. The result is better practice in class and stronger partnerships around each learner.

Interested in becoming an amazing teaching assistant like Aimee? Learn more about our Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship here.