Alicia Lewis joined Lancaster & Morecambe College in 2025 as a Supporting Teaching and Learning Assessor in the Work Based Learning Team, following a career working across a variety of educational settings. Much of her experience has been as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant, supporting children and young people across different age ranges and with a variety of learning needs.

Working in schools has given Alicia first-hand experience of the important role Teaching Assistants play in supporting learning, building confidence and helping children and young people reach their potential. It has also given her a strong understanding of the opportunities available within education, which she can now share with learners beginning or progressing their own careers.

The most rewarding part of my role is seeing learners grow in confidence and achieve things they may not have thought possible. I am passionate about helping people achieve their dreams, whatever their starting point or previous experience. I particularly enjoys seeing learners develop as they gain experience in the workplace and begin to recognise their own skills and strengths. Supporting someone through that journey and watching them progress into a career they are passionate about is incredibly rewarding for me.

Alicia supports learners on the part time Teaching Assistant courses helping them to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to work effectively within an educational setting. She has always been passionate about work-based learning and believes that combining study with practical experience gives learners the opportunity to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to succeed. As a work-based learning assessor, Alicia supports learners to apply their knowledge in practice, reflect on their experiences and continue developing professionally. She believes some of the most valuable learning happens when learners can connect what they learn with what they are actually doing in the workplace.

My experience of working in schools across different age ranges, including supporting learners with additional needs, allows me to bring valuable real-life experience into my role as an assessor. I am abke to help learners connect the theory they are studying with what they are experiencing in their own workplaces.

Alicia's biggest piece of advice for anyone considering becoming a Teaching Assistant is to get involved and gain practical experience wherever possible. If they have the opportunity to volunteer in a school or educational setting, she would encourage them to take it. Gaining hands-on experience can help them understand the role, build their confidence and decide whether it is the right career for them.

Becoming a Teaching Assistant can be the beginning of a rewarding career journey. There are many different directions you can take as you develop your experience and qualifications. You could progress into a Higher Level Teaching Assistant role, and specialise in a particular area or use the skills and experience you gain as a stepping stone towards becoming a teacher.

I truly believe the skills developed as a Teaching Assistant are incredibly valuable and transferable, whether you want to progress within education or explore a different pathway in the future; it is a career where you can continue to learn, develop and grow!