'I have been at home looking after my four children for a few years and I felt the time was right to pick up on a career again.
Eight years ago I did a BSc (Hons) in Behavioural Science and I had been thinking that I wanted to work with three- to four-year-olds, but in a capacity where I had contact with parents and families.
'The course is demanding. I attend classes from 9.30 to 12.30 each day and then there is a lot of reading and independent work that takes up the afternoons. My group is currently working on an outdoor play module and I have a presentation to prepare on this.
'We have five work placements during the year and I will soon be working in a nursery or children's centre. Placements are organised by the college. They vary between two to three weeks, although the last one will be for a month. They are vital to the process and are something I am very much looking forward to.
'I am very aware of my time restrictions and the business of studying all feels very new again. I'm learning how to stand up in front of people, give presentations and organise PowerPoint slides.
'Every student has to review their own progress at the end of each module. From outdoor play we will be moving on to child protection and issues to do with developing effective practice in early years.'
