Darren Pearson
Study Type: Adult and Community
Study Location: The Roundhouse
Subject Studied: Teacher Training, Coaching and Mentoring
Teaching Assistant Darren keen to progress to HLTA with DCG
Volunteering at his son’s school led to a rewarding new career for teaching assistant Darren Pearson.
Darren, 41 will shortly finish the Level 3 Diploma for Teaching Assistants with Derby College Group and intends to continue his training with the college to become a higher-level TA.
He said: “I love my job and would like to carry on to levels 4 and 5. Many children don’t have male role models in their lives but as a male TA I can be that person.
“One of the best parts of my job is building rapport with the children so they feel they have someone to relate to; someone they can talk to and come to with any problems.”
Darren attends The Roundhouse and really enjoys going into college and being with the other people on his course.
He added: “We help each other. We’re in a WhatsApp group together and because I did the level 2 last year other students regularly contact me with questions.
“Our course is so broad based, covering everything from safeguarding to leisure and play. I want to gain as much knowledge as I can from the tutors.”
Darren has had ‘all sorts of jobs’ since leaving school, working in retail, care, cleaning and warehousing but he hadn’t planned to go into a teaching support role.
That changed, though, when his wife went back to university and he became a stay-at-home dad.
He added: “I started helping out at my son’s school with activities such as swimming. As a volunteer I loved being with the children and keeping myself busy, so I trained as a TA.
“I’m now at Brookfield Primary School in Mickleover where I assist with children of all ages – right from year one up to year six. It’s an OPAL school, promoting outdoor play and learning, so our children spend time outdoors riding bikes, climbing trees and building dens, which they love.
“We also do extra curriculum sports like rugby and football. I’m looking forward to staying with Derby College and training to be a HLTA and possibly a qualified teacher.
“At 41, I bring life experience to my role. Education is a career worth exploring for adults like me who have had previous jobs but are now looking for a rewarding new challenge.”
Education is a career worth exploring for adults like me.