My Journey as a Level 2 Community Activator Coach

Amiee Forster is a TA and PE apprentice working in St Margaret’s C of E Primary School in Durham. Leaving school after completing her GCSEs she has now gained her Level 2 Community Activator Coach apprenticeship and been offered a permanent role. She was supported by tutors at our partner hub site, Go Well.

You came straight out of school and into this apprenticeship. What drew you to this path?

Amiee: I’ve actually wanted to do this since primary school. We had community activator apprentices on the same programme and I remember being really inspired by them. I always struggled with school, so college was never going to be for me. When I started it, I was just really happy. I was getting so many more skills, and I was still getting paid. So I thought it was two wins.

Congratulations on your distinction - what’s the next step for you?

Amiee: My school could see that I was good at the classroom-based support as well as PE, so I’m lucky to have had the chance to develop in this area. I want to become a full time TA and would really like to do the L3 apprenticeship next.

How has your confidence changed since you started?

Amiee: It’s grown massively. I was bullied quite badly from Year 5 to Year 11, and it led to a lot of anxiety. When I first started my apprenticeship, my self-belief wasn’t that great to be honest.

I remember for my first couple of weeks, I wouldn’t talk to anyone in the staffroom; I’d just sit in the corner and eat my lunch by myself. Now, I’m much more vocal and can have a laugh with the staff- they even come to me now when they need cheering up. My confidence supporting children has grown so much and I can do more tasks independently.

I’d say my workplace has become my "safe space," which is a total turnaround from how I felt about school as a pupil. You feel proud of yourself, like you know you're making a difference to the children's school day.

Do you think it makes a difference, being a younger role model for the pupils?

Amiee: I think because it wasn’t that long since I was in school, I can relate to the pupils differently - especially anyone who might be having difficulties with friendships or anxiety. I want to make sure kids have a more positive experience at school than I did; I always let them know they can come and talk to me at any time.

What are some of the core skills you’ve learned during your apprenticeship?

Amiee: I would say I’ve learned a lot of behaviour management, as well as really practical things like how to plan warm up activities. I’m much better at planning ahead now, things like getting all the equipment ready and putting all the work in the folders. I’ve also thought a lot about engaging children. I go around and ask the children who maybe aren't so motivated, "Oh, ok what would you like to do in this round?" The school has also given me plenty of opportunities to build up my classroom skills, which has been great for me.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Amiee: So Thursday and Friday morning, I’m a Teaching Assistant in Year 1 or Reception, and other days are full PE days and Mondays, I’m in Forest School. I’m even working on starting a boxing club. The kids were so excited about the idea after my training lesson.

In the mornings, I help out with a small group of Key Stage 1 students who struggle with attendance. We offer a soft start to the day by doing fifteen minutes of fun activities in the hall. I also provide additional one-to-one SEN support and it’s nice because I get to work with the same pupil in the "T Club", which is our after-school enrichment.

We do loads of events as a school, swimming galas, cross country, so a big part of my role is helping out with those. They’re not all sports-focused - I recently helped take the Year 1s to a superhero festival!

Can you tell me more about how you support your one-to-one?

Amiee: You feel a sense of pride because he's come on so much from the start of the year to now. Obviously, he always had one-to-one support during the main school day, but before I joined, there wasn’t quite the same capacity at T Club, so I’m really glad to have helped. We do art activities and games, and also go to the gym, which helps build his strength and independence.

What has the support been like from your apprenticeship tutors?

Amiee: Gareth's very approachable. If you ever need him for anything, he always finds the time. Or if you think, "Oh, I wish I could do this," he would always try to see how your ideas could be included.

When it came to end point assessment he messaged me saying, "You're gonna be great. You know you can do it. You just have to believe in yourself." It makes a huge difference though when you have your school and tutors behind you.

What would you say to someone considering an apprenticeship?

Amiee: One hundred percent, go for it. I’ve already tried to talk my friends into it! There needs to be more awareness that this is an option. It’s hands down the best thing I’ve done since leaving school. You find your community, you grow as a person, and you realise you can make a real difference.

You feel proud of yourself, like you know you're making a difference to the children's school day. My confidence supporting children has grown so much. Hands down the best thing I've chosen to do since leaving school.

Amiee Forster - PE Apprentice and TA, St Margaret’s C of E Primary School

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