From Rebuilding Confidence to New Beginnings: Claire’s Skills for Work Journey
Claire, a 40-year-old single mother of two, returned to Bradford in 2023 after living in other areas and taking a career break to raise her children. Before this, she worked as a catering assistant in a school, but without completing her GCSEs, she found her progression options limited. She reached a point where she wanted to rebuild her confidence, develop new skills, and create better opportunities for herself and her family.
Determined to move forward and create a brighter future, Claire made the decision to re-engage with learning. She began with an online course before enrolling with Skills for Work, where she has since completed a Supporting Work in Schools – Teaching Assistant Level 2 Award course and is currently working towards Functional Skills Maths and Level 2 English qualifications. Her goal is to gain the credentials needed to progress further and ultimately enter employment within a school setting.
Claire’s journey has been truly transformative. Through her studies, she has developed her communication skills, particularly enjoying English, where writing tasks and vocabulary building have significantly boosted her confidence. She found the Teaching Assistant course especially engaging, describing it as an “eye opener” that deepened her understanding of different educational needs. Although maths has been more challenging, she has shown great determination and resilience, remaining committed to improving her skills.
Beyond qualifications, the impact on Claire’s daily life has been significant. Learning has provided her with structure, purpose, and renewed motivation, helping her build confidence and a positive outlook for the future.
“Skills for Work has helped me gain confidence and I feel a lot happier than I have in a long time. I have gained friendships as well as qualifications. Thank you.”
Looking ahead, Claire hopes to progress onto the Supporting Work in a School - Teaching Assistant Level 3 Certificate course, once she has achieved her maths and English qualifications. Her long-term ambition is to secure a role within a school, building a stable and fulfilling career that works around her family life.
“I feel more confident now and much more like myself again.”
Claire’s journey is a powerful example of how adult learning can go beyond qualifications - helping individuals build confidence, develop resilience, and take meaningful steps towards a brighter, more independent future.