Michaela Tucimova

Lead SEN Teaching Assistant in a Primary School

I’ve gained new knowledge and skills, higher self-esteem and most of all a unique professional identity.

My educational journey

My working journey in early childhood education and care began nine years ago after my daughter was born. NVQ qualifications and continuous professional development trainings prepared me for work as an early years practitioner with small children of all abilities. However, it was the flexibility and the broad spectrum of specialised study offered by the Foundation Degree and subsequently by the BA Hons Professional Practice programmes at Leeds Trinity that had the most impact on my professional development. 

How my time at Leeds Trinity has helped my career

Throughout the programmes I was able to explore my personal interests in contemporary learning approaches and childhood developmental disorders and apply creativity to my work. Not only did I receive an award for outstanding academic achievement but a work promotion to a preschool leader. 

However, it was the work on my final year empirical research project which examined the ability to scaffold learning for young children displaying differences in development associated with autism that prepared me for a new and interesting career path. I now work in primary education in a unique role where I deliver interventions to children experiencing profound difficulties and developmental delays. 

Returning to education

Being a single parent, in full time employment, studying, with English as a second language is not an easy undertaking. Nevertheless, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed studying at Leeds Trinity. The friendly atmosphere, flexible arrangements, availability of a broad range of resources and face-to-face time with tutors eased these pressures and enabled me to grow from a practitioner into a professional and academically as a writer and a researcher.   

My advice for a someone thinking about enrolling onto a Foundation degree

My advice for anyone thinking of returning to higher education or who are interested in developing a deeper understanding of working with children and families would be: do it. You have nothing to lose and with each completed assignment you'll feel accomplished and more confident. 

Our Foundation and Professional Practice degrees

If you already work with children, young people and families and are looking to gain a higher education qualification, our work-based learning degrees offer an alternative route to studying for a degree. Visit Foundation and Professional Practice degrees for more information.