How a gap year helped my career

I began working for Yipiyap in September 2019. Throughout the year both my role in school and my team have provided so many valued memories and experiences. The very first memory I have is my interview; I was nervous plus I couldn’t figure out how to turn on the sound on my laptop! After a few minutes I felt much more relaxed and had a great interview with Catherine followed by a second interview with Hannah a few days later. The interviews are done in such a professional way, yet they are also very welcoming and friendly.

Before starting work in September all the tutors spent two days in Altrincham where we had the opportunity to bond as a team and learn the key skills we needed for our new role. We all stayed in the same hotel and had two great evenings together. As part of the induction we heard from previous tutors and regional directors about their experiences and gratefully took onboard all their advice. We also got to know the amazing management team and learn everything we needed to be able to deliver the tuition they expected of us. The highlight of the induction has to be the choir that provided the team building exercise. Everyone got involved and it was an amazing atmosphere; something I will never forget! I had very little experience of tutoring before, but the induction made me feel very prepared and excited for my first day!

Throughout my year with Yipiyap we have had many social and fundraising events with my regional team. Having the regional teams is a huge benefit because you can get together and bond as a group. We talk daily on our WhatsApp chat group – I really couldn’t ask for a better team! During the year your regional director and indeed the whole Yipiyap team offer so much support; whether you need a chat after a stressful day at work or help perhaps with one of your goals for the year - they always go above and beyond!

Whilst the most of the tutors work in secondary schools, I have spent the year working in a primary school with looked after children. I mostly work one to one with a visually impaired year 6 pupil; I have helped with her concentration, memory, behaviour and learning strategies, as well as scribing for her or rewriting resources or work on the board that she can’t see or that she finds too difficult. I did an online course to help me understand and prepare for my work with looked after children. My role has been very challenging at different times throughout the year, but it has always been extremely rewarding every single day! Looked after children often have a lot going on at home and at times I found it very difficult not to get emotional or frustrated by their circumstances which is why it was so comforting to know I had constant support from Yipiyap.

I have built a great working relationship with all the staff and have always felt like a valued member of the school team. I have had the opportunity to work with a variety of different pupils and learn so much about what happens behind the scenes in schools. I can honestly say that there is no feeling like the happiness, relief and pride you experience when your pupil finally understands something they previously struggled with and their face just lights up and so does yours because you know you helped them get there! Working in a primary school is such a different atmosphere to a secondary school, everyone knows everyone (pupils and staff) which allows you to build strong working relationships with them all. I never thought I would remember as many names as I do! I have experienced an OFSTED inspection, school trips, nurture groups and clubs, SATs prep (even though they didn’t happen this year!), and parent evenings; there is so much you can fit into just one year!

In March I thought COVID-19 was going to massively disrupt my gap year with the closure of schools. I was scared I wouldn’t have a job and an income and that I wouldn’t get to complete a full academic year in school. My school (like many others) remained open for vulnerable children and those of key workers. Although it was a frightening and uncertain time, I loved every second I spent in school with those pupils. The children we had were a wide variety of ages and abilities and yet they bonded so well and thrived in the new environment. I got to know more of the children and staff that I hadn’t previously worked with and I watched the children develop their team building, creative and sports skills in a less educational based environment. During the days I wasn’t in school I worked from home creating resources and completing online courses.

Yipiyap were extremely supportive throughout the initial weeks and months of lockdown and helped me enormously during the phased reopening of schools that saw the return of foundation stage, and years 1 and 6. My bubble is a foundation stage group with eight pupils and one other member of staff. The school looks very strange with almost bare classrooms, all the seats are two metres apart, the playground is split into sections with rope and tape, and the corridors are empty. All the children have staggered breaks and drop off times to limit contact with other bubbles and staff are given optional full PPE plus lots of cleaning equipment and training. I feel safe in school due to the continuous support from the staff and my regional director who is always checking in to make sure things are going well.

Because of COVID-19 Yipiyap had to reinvent their Fit for Future event in June. Ordinarily we would have all got together again, learnt key skills for our future, and looked back on a great gap year. Now we will all be taking part in online sessions over the space of a week; first aid, cooking, meditation, coping with nerves, and the all-important Tutor Awards!

One year with Yipiyap clearly wasn’t enough for me as I am hoping to come back next year as a senior tutor! I spent my gap year with Yipiyap to help me decide what career path to follow. I loved working in a school and so I am going to the University of Derby to study Special Educational Needs and Disability BA (Hons) whilst hopefully working for Yipiyap on the days I am not in university. I hope to be a primary school teacher in the future and think this was the perfect gap year for me!

I would describe Yipiyap as a professional, supportive and nurturing gap year that offers valuable practical experience and training to either set the groundwork for a career in education or provide the maturity and skills needed for your future studies and careers.