Last updated 15:43, Wednesday, 19 November 2008

FOR 19 year-old Suzanne Cartmell, a love of teaching came from an initial period spent in a local primary school.

The Keswick teenager spent one day a week in the classroom during her health and social care course at sixth form.

Realising her love of teaching and working with children she left sixth form and began an NVQ course at Lakes College.

Suzanne said: “I knew I wanted to work with children in the classroom but I didn’t actually want to do teaching proper, so I knew becoming a teaching assistant was the right path for me.

“The course at the college really interested me; it was specific and meant I could spend time learning and gaining experience in the classroom.

“But apart from that, my friends, who were already at Lakes College, told me the facilities and student support there were really good also.

“My first placement was in a reception class and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s what I wanted to do and actually spending time in the classroom with the children was a brilliant learning curve for me.

“My second placement is where I’ve been for the last three years, Grasmere Primary School. It’s a lovely school; it’s only small, with 45 pupils in it.”

Suzanne is now studying a Level 3 teaching assistant.

Her role while on placement involves supporting the teacher through every requirement.

She works with the children through literacy and numeracy classes, supervises them in the playground and helps with after school and extra-curricular activities.

“It’s a very rewarding career,” Suzanne added.

“I wanted to become a teaching assistant after taking a health and social care course, so it’s a profession which can be followed at any stage in your professional life.

“You don’t have to take it from the moment you leave sixth form.

“When I’ve finished my Level 3 I hope to take an advanced teaching assistant course or even a phonics course as a specialism but the opportunities are endless.”