Students all set for child care career

Childcare is proving not only to be a popular course at Coleg Powys, Newtown, but also a successful career option for students.

With a new academic year startng next month, MyNewtown takes a look back at the success of the course.

Over their two years in college, child care learners complete over 800 hours of placement. This level of practical experience is what really sets the Coleg Powys course aside from other options.

The department has had a very high employment rate in the Newtown area. Almost all students who have completed their course have either progressed on to university or gone into employment in the local area.

Here are just a few of the other activities that students have been involved with in the last couple of months.

Every Thursday staff and students have been helping to support children from Ysgol Cedewain in their Forest School Lessons. The children have been visiting the forest regularly and asked the College’s second years to help support the children, who all have special educational needs. Students and children have been going out in all weather.

At the Farm Open Day on Sunday, 17th June, three students planned and carried out activities with visiting children.

Five students recently helped out at the Royal Welsh Show looking after children during the day.

On the morning of Friday, 29th June, two learners completed their course. The same day, the Children’s Care, Learning and Development department received a telephone call from a local children’s nursery looking for staff and both started full-time employment on the Monday morning.

Finally, following the great success of the work placements in Bucharest, Romania this year, the department has been given the go ahead for another overseas visit next year to complete work placements in the homeless shelter and children’s nurseries - an excellent experience for the students.

For more information on Children’s Care, Learning and Development courses please contact the Coleg Powys student services team on 0845 4086 200.