Student FAQs & Testimonials

FAQs

You do not need to be working or volunteering in a school or childcare environment for the NCFE CACHE AWARD courses as they are knowledge only qualifications. However, we do strongly recommend you to find work placement as a volunteer if you are planning to gain employment. We will recommend to organisations preparing their learners to gain employment that work placement be incorporated in their plans. This will build the learners confidence in the working environment, sustain their post and create successful careers in the future.

The NCFE CACHE Level 2 and 3 CERTIFICATES “original” course has been extended until 2020 to run with the Level 2 and 3 CERTIFICATE “new” courses. This will mean the learner has a choice of two qualifications in each level, which will allow them to gain employment and create career pathways. The new version has been reviewed and updated to address new agendas to identify: employability skills, radicalisation, a wider context to child abuse, health and safety including e-safety, digital mobile devices and understanding mental health and well being. You will notice that the NCFE CACHE tutor guided learning hours have increased in the “new” version due to requiring additional tutor observations in your learning or childcare environment. This will mean the tutor will have more opportunities to assess your competency on a regular basis through observations and one to one meetings with you. The NCFE CACHE “new” version also includes “schools and colleges” offering the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in supporting adult learners.

Please contact us direct by telephone or email which are provided on the “Contact Us” page. This will allow us get to know you by discussing your aspirations, career pathways and ask you what you expect from a Learner2mentor tutor. We will offer initial advice and guidance as to what course best suits your goals and experiences as well as taking into consideration your day-to-day commitments. Initially, we will begin the course at a gentle pace, allowing you can get to know your tutor’s teaching styles and for your tutor to know what learning techniques suits you best. You can start at any time of the year if you are planning to study online as an individual learner. If you are involved in a group, there will be a set day and time planned to suit both tutor and learners.

Testimonials

After achieving my NCFE CACHE Level 1 Preparing to Work in Schools qualification, with Learner2mentor, I shortly after applied for a job as an SEN Teaching Assistant. I was supported by my Landlord Golding Homes Employment Advisor who helped to complete my job application and write a covering letter to the school. My tutor and mentor Susan from Learner2mentor, remained in contact with me regularly offering advice and guidance in preparation for my interview, building on my confidence and to believe in myself. We discussed what they may ask during the interview and reflected on the knowledge I had gained through the Level 1 course and my past experience in health and social care. I have now successfully secured my dream job supporting teaching and learning within a SEN School as a teaching assistant. Golding Homes and Learner2mentor have been amazing and I am so thankful for the training and continuous support offered to me. I never thought this would be possible after working 18 years with health and social care but Susan highlighted that all work experience is valuable to the progression of a career pathway. I cannot thank both Learner2mentor and Golding Homes enough for helping me secure my dream role. I know that Susan will continue to support me throughout my teaching experience, will offer advice to continue my studies when I am ready and to be there to talk to me whenever I need her. I just can’t wait to begin my new role. Thank you again!
Jodie*
Golding Homes Resident
When I saw the advert offering this course, it seemed a little too good to be true. I have three children and work as a receptionist, but as a young girl I used to pretend I was a teacher and even had a blackboard on my bedroom wall in front of my ‘class’ of teddies. After finishing the Level 2 Award in Support in Schools, Learner2Mentor showed me that although I had my doubts about my ability with other work commitments, I am capable. The support offered has literally been out of this world. I have been able to contact Learner2Mentor at literally any time and have been given support which I am sure is far more than any other mentor, as they seem to really care that this will become a career, not just a piece of paper that is achieved just because you can!! I am truly excited at the thought of what this course could bring and I intend on taking this as far as I can wholeheartedly and with the passion and skills shown to me by Learner2Mentor.
Anonymous Learner
"Thank you so much for your constant support and encouragement. After the first part of the course, I wasn’t that much encouraged to progress to the second stage. Susan, your encouragement and making it possible for me to attend on Thursdays (which was suitable for me), really urged me on. You have always shown a keen interest in all our progress and that has inspired me a great deal. Marion, my interest and enthusiasm has grown since starting the second part mainly due to your professionalism. You go the extra mile and treat us equally and with respect. Thank you for your patience with our class."
Anonymous Learner

**To read more about Jodie’s story and our partnership with Golding Homes, click here.

Case Studies

LONDON AND QUADRANT HOUSING TRUST

London and Quadrant Housing Trust is a housing association based in Lewisham, operating in Greater London, South East England and East Anglia since 1963.

We worked together with Learner2Mentor Limited to help support unemployed parents and carers with the aim to return them into the workplace.

L&Q wanted to find an avenue where parents and carers of children could find a flexible working environment during term-time that would be local to them and fit into their family lifestyle. Learner2Mentor had the answer with the ‘Let’s Go to School’ programme, which enabled up to 500 L&Q residents to train towards the NCFE-qualified ‘Support Work in Schools’ accreditation in a friendly, supportive environment and with like-minded people who wanted to work with children as teaching assistants or in similar support roles.

The programme also focused on residents gaining work placements by volunteering as teaching assistants to gain practical experience before plunging into paid employment. The paid employment would often be within the school that they had been volunteering at. This was not only great the student but also strengthened the partnership between the school, Learner2mentor and L&Q.

L&Q and Learner2Mentor shared a passion and vision: to allow people to turn their dreams of working with children into a reality with the help of a caring support network.

Our positive relationship with Learner2Mentor has reflected on the L&Q students in many ways, including building their confidence and self-esteem. They have also made many friends along the way!-

This five-year project has left a great legacy at L&Q and is still highly revered by internal and external stakeholders as well as the wider community.

The ‘Let’s Go to School’ project won the L&Q ‘Creating Places Awards Foundation’ project of the year 2013 and the ‘Business in the Community’ (BiTC) ‘Big Tick Work Inclusion Award’ for the two consecutive years of 2014 and 2015.

Joanna Pope

Project Manger, L&Q