Hi i have just got on to do the fd st&l in september, i work full time as a coach and volunteer in a junior school 3 mornings a week ta. iv not been doing it for long tho, but love it. not done the nvqs finished a levels a few years ago, but read a few forums and lots of people are saying how hard it is. come sept i think ill cut my hours down so i work maybe part time and maybe do a few more days at school (but still only voluntary) anyone with experience of the course who is starting or doing or finished which could fill me in on anything and help out would be great as im starting to think it may have not been a good idea with all the negative comments. Does anyone know any books or anything that will help me prepare for it? I will be in college one night a week 4 til 9 i then all my school hours.
Thankyou so much

anything worth having is going to be hard work, but dont be put off by negative comments as there are positives otherwise no one woud do it!

phone the uni/college and ask for a reading list as they may vary from place to place and the units you are studying

good luck

We were given reading list to go with each module but the key issue was to use the internet to research journals as they are more up to date and you can find things published in the month you are looking. If this is how you are expected to do it then all will be explained when you start. 5 hours a week in college is way more help than I had so you should have plenty of time to ask for advice. The point about FDs is that you don't need a levels to access them so you will find that you are already part of the way to knowing how to write a good essay.
Good luck.

thanks thats great to hear. i'm actually quite looking forward to it, ill keep you posted on how things are going nearer the time.

hi again,
just enrolled on the course properly and got my starting date. excited to start it also a bit nervous as everyone says how hard work it is. Is there anyone else starting it in September?

I finished my FD last year and am about to start a 'Top up Year' to convert it to a BA, then hoefully PGCE or GTP. I had no A levels but found the course fantastic. I have enjoyed it ( except for the odd time when I have left an assignment too close to the deadline!!!) and it has been great for my confidence both in school and outside too. Good luck!!!

Just been reading over my paperwork for my STA course, which is supposed to be Year 1 of the Fd in Learning Support. Totally confused now as it keeps referring to STA Primary and I was told it was for TAs in Senior school as well. When you read the programme the before christmas seems ok, but, the after until the end only seems to deal with Maths and English. Then when I look at Year 2 and 3 that seems more relevant. Long e-mail sent as I don't want to waste my time and money and the schools time and money if its not relevant to Senior school.

I really want to do a course but it now seems I will definetely have to spend 3 years on it when I was hoping to do Year 1 and see how it goes.

Bother
Good Luck with your course