When Leah Morley joined Realise in April 2020, she was the first Early Years trainee trainer assessor in the organisation. But her story with Realise started years earlier - as a learner.
Leah began her career in Early Years after realising sixth form wasn’t the right path for her. “I gave sixth form a try,” she says, “but I knew university wasn’t what I wanted. I realised quickly that my passion was in Early Years, so I applied for a job at a local nursery and that’s when everything clicked - I knew this was what I wanted to do.”
Leah completed her Level 2 Early Years Practitioner qualification in 2015, followed by her Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification in 2016 - both with Realise. She worked in a nursery setting for six years, progressing to a room leader role. But as much as she loved working with children, she found herself increasingly drawn to mentoring others.
“I really enjoyed supporting students and work experience learners who came into the nursery. Seeing their progress and confidence grow - that was incredibly rewarding. That’s when I started thinking about becoming a Trainer.”
Her inspiration? Her own Trainer at the time - a Realise team member who she still remembers with admiration. “She was amazing. She made me think, I want to do what she does.”
Once Leah gained her CAVA (Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement), driving licence and some added experience, she took the leap and applied for the new trainee trainer role at Realise. She got the job and began the next stage of her journey.
Though already qualified, the role gave her a new way to apply her knowledge and develop key skills and behaviours - particularly around coaching, assessing, and professional support. “It was a big learning curve,” she reflects, “but it was exactly what I wanted.”
As part of her continued development, Leah also gained qualifications in:
With a full caseload and a growing portfolio of high-achieving learners, many of whom achieved distinction grades, Leah’s commitment and performance didn’t go unnoticed. When the opportunity came up for a Lead Trainer role, she was ready.
Today, Leah still works directly with learners, but also supports and mentors fellow assessors, works closely with training managers, helps ensure compliance with ESFA funding rules, prepares teams for Ofsted and supports quality across her team.
“Going from an apprentice who had no idea what she was doing, to now leading and supporting a team - that’s a big jump. And I love it. It’s the best decision I ever made.”
Leah is based in Nottingham, with most of her learners located locally. Although she occasionally travels to nearby areas like Sheffield or Wakefield when needed, the role is largely remote.
“There’s so much flexibility in this role. Some days I’m travelling, some days I’m home doing admin, meetings or learner reviews. You’re managing your own diary, so organisation is everything - that’s the key skill I’d say you absolutely need as a Trainer.”
The most rewarding part of Leah’s job is watching her learners grow - not just in skills, but in confidence and self-belief.
“I’ve had learners come in shy, unsure of themselves, and over the course of the apprenticeship they completely transform. You see it in their voice, their posture, their attitude. It’s not just about the qualification - it’s about watching them become the best version of themselves.”
“Just do it,” she says. “Take the leap. Step out of your comfort zone. If you care about people, if you enjoy helping others grow, this is the role for you.”