Working Skills For Adults 2 – Dylan’s Story

In July 2016 Dylan Zennadi contacted Torfaen Employability to enquire about teaching assistant courses scheduled to start the following September with Adult Community Learning. At the time Dylan was employed for Torfaen play scheme, which he hugely enjoyed and was keen to gain a qualification which would enable him to work with children in a school setting. Dylan currently works at a local Wetherspoons to support himself through his studies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

At the access day, run prior to the start of the main course, Dylan’s commitment and potential ensured he was accepted on to the award course. Initially Dylan was worried that disclosing he had dyslexia would jeopardise his chances of a place but he was reassured that there would be lots of support available including an additional literacy class and the opportunity to use his laptop in the sessions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He was undeterred by warnings of the heavy workload ahead or the prospect of juggling study, work and placement. From the start, Dylan was motivated and enthusiastic, quickly becoming a huge asset to his placement school. He is a popular student in class, always contributing to discussions and tasks. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Although Dylan will be the first to admit he has found it difficult at times, particularly when his laptop was broken and he fell behind with some of his assignments, he has shown real resilience and tenacity and persevered when the going got tough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He is on course to gain his level 2 City and Guilds Support Work in Schools qualification and excited to see what the future holds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Linda Bendon, Dylan’s Employment Support Worker said:
” When I first met Dylan I immediately realised he was an ideal teaching assistant candidate. He already had knowledge and experience of working with children from his playworker role, bags of enthusiasm and determination to succeed. In addition to the challenges most adult students face combining study with other commitments, Dylan also had to find strategies to overcome his dyslexia and get his learning down on paper. The school that snaps him up will gain a great teaching assistant and fantastic role model.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Bridges into Work 2 and Working Skills for Adults 2 is part financed by the European Social Fund. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​