CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education

Jo Selby was determined to achieve the CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education, despite the fact that she faced the additional challenge of being profoundly deaf.

"The qualification I have gained is worth so much to me, I feel I have lots of options and directions I could go in."

The 19 year old completed her Diploma at South-East Derbyshire College, and was supported in lessons by a communicator who used sign language to convey the teachers’ message to her.

Dedicated Jo managed to communicate perfectly well with the staff at her first placement, and only asked the communicator to come along on her very first day. "I relied on my Cochlear Implant and Digital Hearing Aid. I also communicate orally, and am an excellent lip reader," she says. However she admits that she was a little daunted at first. "I kept thinking – would I be able to understand them? And would they understand me?" As for the children, "Well, it was strange," Jo admitted, "we understood each other right from the start."

Spurred on by this success, Jo went on to complete placements at a range of settings for children of different age groups. "This has given me independence, confidence and a lot of fond memories. It’s also given me a better idea of the sort of age group I’d like to work with in the future. I’d always thought that I wanted a job with babies as I thought they were so cute. But now I’ve worked with them, I’ve decided that they’re also quite demanding!"

With the Diploma under her belt, Jo is looking forward to developing her career. "My dream job is to be a play specialist as I feel play is a central part in children's lives, but the qualification I have gained is worth so much to me, I feel I have lots of options and directions I could go in."

Jo's tutor, Penny Marston, has been bowled over by the teenager’s dedication and commitment to her studies. "We think that she has achieved a great deal, she even managed to become a qualified first aider whilst she was doing the course," Penny said. "We proud to have had her as a student."

CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education
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