In the first of a new series, we’re talking to candidates about their experience of changing careers and becoming qualified assessors with the support of LXP Skills and LXP Talent.
Our first candidate is Stephanie Archdeacon who studied for a Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA) with LXP Skills and found her first Early Years Assessor role through LXP Talent.
I’ve worked in childcare for the last nine years. After I left school I completed a Level 3 diploma in childcare and worked with children for around two years until I became a nanny. I then went on to work in a nursery, and I’ve also done some Teaching Assistant work. So I’ve always been focused on children and, more specifically, the Early Years.
I loved working in the nursery but I wanted a change. At the time I didn’t know much about Assessing, but I assumed it was hard to get into simply because there wasn’t much information available. A friend was doing an assessor’s course and she suggested I do a CAVA (Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement). I’d seen her work in practice, observing what the role entailed and I thought about my passion for early years education and how I could pass on my enthusiasm.
I applied for the course in February 2024, did that for about six weeks alongside my nursery work, and passed, applied for an assessor’s job through Frazer at LXP Talent (LXP Skills’ sister company) and was successful. It usually takes longer but the courses are very flexible. Now I work at PTS as an assessor, and it’s probably the best job I’ve ever had!
When you’re doing the course you use your teaching interactions with learners to give feedback, and obviously if you don’t have access to your own learners then you can’t complete the course. So my main concern was that I didn’t have my own learners to assess, but I saw that LXP could support me with this and provide the two learners I needed. That’s what made them stand out for me.
If I did have any issues I knew that I could contact Frazer. For example, during the time when I was preparing for my first micro-teach (a small teaching session) and was really nervous. Frazer talked me through everything, offering support the whole way through.
I also had to deliver a teaching session to the people interviewing me at PTS. I’d never had to deliver any teaching to adults before, only three- and four-year-olds! I found it very intimidating but, thanks to Frazer’s support, it was a complete success.
I’ve been in my new role as a Tutor/Assessor at PTS since April of 2024, and in the past few months, I’ve been building up my caseload and now have 45 learners!
I’m currently doing my AET (Level 3 Award in Education and Training) with LXP which will enable me to teach groups of adult learners.
I’m very good at technology as well as being quite creative so I’ve been able to create a lot of resources which I felt were missing beforehand. The ability to add to the company’s depth of knowledge and increase the amount of resources they have has been very satisfying.
My line manager recently said this about me, “Since undertaking her CAVA qualification Steph has joined the business and is a valuable addition to the team. Since embarking on her assessing journey she has flourished within her role and is now undertaking her AET qualification to further her professional development. Both these opportunities have enabled her to embrace a change of career within the industry she is passionate about and I am very proud to have her as part of our team.”
I’d say ‘Go for it!’. If you’ve already done most of your areas of childcare and you’ve got a passion for early years education it’s a great career move.
Being an assessor means that I can encourage other people with the experience and the passion for early years to take on a new challenge and pass their knowledge on.
Oh, yes definitely! All the staff that I’ve dealt with have been great. And they’re so quick at marking and turning coursework around – that really helps.
Other providers insist on the course taking six months, but I had the option to complete the course in six weeks which is a huge advantage, both financially and in terms of progressing my career quickly.
For them to offer case studies instead of learners is a huge help too.
I’ve got a caseload of around 45 at the moment, and since starting my role I’ve had four passes, which is amazing! I hope I’ve added to their learning experience and I’m very proud of both them and myself.
We’ll be bringing you more real-life success stories of people who have changed careers and are now working as qualified assessors.
If you are thinking of becoming an assessor or want to know more about this rewarding career then please get in touch. You can call us on 01253 582681, email us at info@lxptalent.co.uk, or fill in the contact form here.
