Fresh Beginnings

It’s the start of a new academic year here at Side by Side and although it’s not a new event for the team, this year, in particular, does feel like a fresh new beginning.  As a nation we may not be completely ‘out of the pandemic woods’ but there is a noticeable uplift in positivity – a Summer of successful sport helped for sure!!  

During the lockdowns, people generally re-evaluated their life priorities and at the Centre, we experienced this through 2 staff members leaving to either semi-retire or reduce workload, as well as some learners deciding to travel or change career direction and who can blame them?  The pandemic has touched us all in varying degrees and of course, such an event should make us stop and reflect – surely many of us have done that and decided to focus on what/who is really important in our lives?  

At the Centre we are proud that our top-quality staff team has been consistent for so long, however, we now have some new faces who have joined us since re-evaluating their lives and are responding to their desire to teach and work within our specialist sectors. 

Jenny Dawson joined the team in January and Collete Ford in April, and both are driving forward our revised early years and residential childcare curriculums.  Both are really excited to start the new academic year and in addition, Collete is working closely with Operations Manager, Julie Downton, in a Safeguarding Officer role. 

Moreover, in recognition of increased learner anxieties following the pandemic, we are providing our learners with dedicated Wellbeing Support in the shape of Michelle Walden, a recently qualified counsellor who also has an early year’s background, so she is fully aware of the expectations and requirements that our learners face in practice and in study.  

Many of our new learners this year have too decided to change their previous job roles to work with children, seeking a more fulfilling and worthwhile career and they are absolutely right – what could be more worthwhile than supporting a child to reach their full potential and surely happy, smiling children must epitomise a bright future?

And there’s more…we have increased our qualifications offer to include employability skills to support people getting back into work in Dorset as well now delivering Working with Children Traineeships and fully-funded English and Maths Functional Skills and Digital Skills.

So, with our fresh new faces at the Centre, we are feeling really excited about our fresh new beginning, not only for the new academic year but also as we all strive forward positively out of the pandemic.