Ellie first heard about Realise through her auntie, who recommended our training courses. At the time, she was working part-time in retail while also raising her young son. She knew she wanted a change but wasn’t sure where to start.
On the first day of the Level 1 Preparing to Work in Schools course, Ellie was filled with anxiety, worried that it would be just like previous learning experiences where she felt unheard and insignificant. However, she recalled, “I was met with the total opposite. The staff from Realise were all so welcoming, and so was the group. I was lucky to have the group I did; these and Adam are who made it so special.”
The training was unlike anything Ellie had experienced before. Her tutor, Adam, had a unique approach to teaching that was student-led, engaging, and interactive. Rather than feeling forced to study, she genuinely wanted to learn. “I enjoyed learning about safeguarding and the difference in girls with autism, learning about how autism was discovered and the difference between hyposensitivity and hypersensitivity.” These topics deepened her understanding and prepared her for her current role in a specialist school.
Thanks to Realise and Adam, she gained the courage and support needed to overcome challenges. She shared, “Starting this course, I was so low and just completely lost in life. Although the best thing ever had happened to me – I had become a mum – I just wasn’t feeling myself. I was struggling in my job, the late-night hours constantly for five years, two and a half years of my son’s life. It was just making me extremely miserable.”
Since completing the course, she has seen a positive transformation in her well-being. “My anxiety had taken over, and I wasn’t really eating. I’ve now put two stone on. I’m doing really well in my job, which I absolutely love, supporting students in a way Adam has shown me.”
Ellie was also nominated as a finalist for the Adult Learner of the Year Award at the Liverpool City Region Adult Education Awards 2024.
Today, she works in an autistic school, a job she absolutely loves. The way Adam taught and supported the learners has influenced how she now supports her students. She is currently a Learning Support Assistant (LSA), but once her son starts school, she plans to apply for a Teaching Assistant (TA) role and eventually work towards becoming a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA).
Ellie
Ellie
She has already recommended two friends to Realise. “I don’t need to tell them anything; they’ve seen the change in me since the course and starting my new job. I was always telling them both how relaxed it was; although some things were tough to hear and some questions hard, the support of Adam was amazing!”
Her experience with Realise was so positive that she and her classmates continued learning together, completing two more courses: Level 2 Support Work in Schools and Colleges and Level 2 Understanding Autism. If it weren’t for Adam, she believes they wouldn’t have stayed on.
She recalled, “We enjoyed Level 1 that much, we all stayed on as a group and completed a further two courses. We all agreed it was how Adam supported us all outside the classroom, independently, providing resources and notes, and lastly not forgetting the way he delivered the sessions to us. I was able to enjoy the learning and take it all on board without feeling bombarded.”
She also highlighted Adam’s dedication, saying, “Adam spent a lot of time preparing extra resources, making it fun where possible, e.g., turning a question round and letting us create a poster, still hitting all the marks but making the booklet that little bit easier. I did not really know much about autism; this course taught me everything I know now. I gained so much knowledge from all the courses and secured a better job for myself.”
“I will forever be grateful for Adam. The support Adam showed me really helped me in so many ways. I don’t think he gives himself enough credit for the fantastic tutor he is. I know all the students would agree with me! He helped us all in his own personal time, was always well prepared for each session. Nothing was ever too much to ask. The whole experience was just amazing.
Looking back, I don’t recognise who I was back then. Although it helped me gain a lot of knowledge and new skills, it also helped me overcome many personal barriers and challenges. Thank you, Adam and Realise!”
If Ellie’s story has motivated you to take the next step, why not start your journey today? Realise offers expert training and support to help you gain new skills and open up exciting career opportunities. Don’t wait – click the link to sign up!
