Students welcome local MP to discuss next level qualifications during national colleges week

Students from East Sussex College Hastings welcomed their local MP, Sally-Ann Hart, to the Station Plaza campus last Friday (23rd Oct) to celebrate Love Our Colleges Week.

The MP for Hastings and Rye joined four students and course leader, Lorain Amstad, to find out more about the new T-Level in Education and Childcare course and how the start of term has been.

From a safe 2 metre distance, Sally-Ann heard about how the course was preparing students for a career in education, working with young people aged from 0-19.

T-Level student, Diana, told Sally-Ann about some of the things she has learnt so far. She said, "We've had a fair bit to learn in the first six weeks, we've covered things like child development, behaviour, and also reflective practice. Being able to evaluate your teaching practice is a really important way to learn and improve."

Sally-Ann asked the group how they had found the beginning of term, particularly with the challenges of Covid-19. Molly explained there had been a lot to think about, but it was great to have face-to-face lessons. She said, "The start of term has been so different. But our tutors made us feel really welcome and safe. The hygiene processes that the college has in place are brilliant, and it has been really great to learn in the classroom, rather than over video calls or google classroom. We've also been able to complete DBS checks and Covid-19 hygiene training, ready for when we can go out on placement."

The T-Level qualification is a two-year course and gives students the opportunity to complete a 45-day sector-specific work placement. Once successfully completed, students will achieve the equivalent of three A-Levels and have a licence to practice, which means they can either progress to university or start working in their chosen sector.

Sally-Ann Hart said, "I've loved talking to the first cohort of T-Level students here in Hastings. They're all extremely passionate about the course and have clearly learnt so much already. They have a very inspiring tutor in Loraine, and I know that they'll have very successful and important careers as childcare practitioners.

T-Levels are an excellent example of the high-quality education we need for the future. Over the next few years, I am aiming to improve the depth and breadth of education in Hastings and Rye, so that young people and adults have the opportunity to develop the right skills and achieve high-level qualifications."