Suniti Sharma

Suniti studies by distance learning on our BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies course. A mother to four children, she works at a primary school in Reading, and has also worked in early years education in Dubai.

Where and what did you study before coming to ARU?

Before attending ARU, I completed my Early Years Level 3 Practitioner and Level 4 Early Years Advanced Practitioner. However, as a mature student I was initially worried about the workload, as it had been over 25 years that I was last in formal education. I am passionate about education, and I wanted to further my career, and deepen my knowledge, so I felt that this was the right course for me.

Did you always know that you would go to university and, if not, what changed your mind?

After leaving school with my A-Levels, I pursued a career in international banking working in London. It was an amazing time, and I gained my international banking qualifications, and at the time I never really considered university. After having my children and taking a career break, I began volunteering in schools and discovered how much I enjoyed working with children. I worked alongside some brilliant teachers, and realised this is the career path that I wanted to follow.

Why did you choose to study at ARU?

I knew that I would not be able to attend university full time, so ARU offered the perfect course of distance learning. It gave me the flexibility to watch the recorded sessions at my own pace and fit my studies around my existing commitments.

The Study Skills Plus have been fantastic and helped me to improve my academic writing. I have also attended many of their workshops and I took advantage of their 1-1 support for both academic guidance on advice on time management.

The module leaders have all been extremely helpful, and I have been able to speak to them regarding the course material, but as they are all professionals who have experience working in early years education I have been able to speak to them for support regarding how I can be a better practitioner. I have really enjoyed my time at ARU.

What do you hope to do when you graduate from ARU?

Once I graduate, I hope to carry my studies further and gain my PGCE and QTS in primary education. I have been successful in gaining a new position to start my initial teacher training, which I am really excited about.

What inspired you to get involved with teaching in the first place?

It was during my time volunteering at local schools here in the UK and in Dubai that I became interested in teaching. From there I gained my level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification so that I could help students succeed and develop essential skills, and encourage a love for learning. I preferred the early years as this is such as an important stage in a child’s development and because I have a nurturing personality, I felt this best suited my skill set.

I believe education has the power to change the lives of children and becoming a teacher means being part of that transformative journey. I am inspired to teach children the academic content, but to also teach them core values, such as kindness, perseverance, resilience and curiosity, and equip children for their future lives. When I see students grasp concepts and develop academically it is extremely fulfilling to know I have played a part in their growth.

Teaching phonics was incredibly rewarding as I watched the children progress from learning individual sounds to blending them into words and eventually beginning to read whole books.

My experience has shown me teaching in primary education will provide the opportunity for me to be creative in my approach, enabling me to create engaging and enjoyable lessons that turn learning into a fun experience.

What's the most valuable thing you will take away from your course?

One of the most valuable things I’ve learned about myself through this course is resilience. This course has shown me that by being organised and determined I can pursue my goal of becoming a teacher. There were many times I felt overwhelmed by the work and other commitments and I considered giving up, but I am so proud of myself for persevering and getting the work completed. The drop-in sessions with module leaders have been an excellent source of support and guidance.

This course has shown me that as mature students we can keep on learning. One of my favourite modules was the sustainability module. It has made me so mindful of my own actions and I now feel passionate about teaching the children how they can lead sustainable lives and become agents of change for a sustainable future. My goal now is to become a sustainability lead in a school.

Which aspects of your course have most helped your career development, and why?

Definitely understanding the theory behind child development. Learning about the key theorists has given me the understanding of how children grow, learn and develop at different stages. This knowledge has helped me to better support children’s learning in the classroom, tailor activities to their developmental needs, and recognise when additional support might be necessary.

Using the theoretical knowledge I have gained from my studies, I have been proactive in enhancing the provision of our learning environment, creating enabling environments, both indoors and outdoors. I had the opportunity to attend Forest School sessions, which deepened my understanding and appreciation of the benefits of outdoor learning and the Forest School approach. I have applied several strategies to enrich our outdoor learning environment, such as encouraging the children to use natural resources in their play. This inspired the children to be imaginative and creative, fostering collaboration that strengthened their personal and social skills. It also promoted communication, language development, and problem-solving abilities.

What piece of advice would you give to other students in your field?

Be prepared for the amount of work and use the time to research and read around your topic. I find it helpful to print out the learning outcomes and write how I will meet them. Keep organised and set days for when you will study each module. Use study skills plus, talk to your module leaders and with your distance learning students set up groups so that you can be a support network to each other.

What is your favourite thing about studying by distance learning?

Studying by distance learning offers me the flexibility of watching the recorded lectures at my own pace and pausing them when needed to make sure I have understood the content.

I do however try to attend all the live lectures as it’s a great way to get to know the module leader and the other students on the course. If you are studying via distance learning and you have a local university nearby, you can apply for SCONUL access, whereby you can use their library and services, helping you to still feel part of the university community.

I have enjoyed distance learning and it has required me to be organised and to balance work, home and family while ensuring that I set aside dedicated time for my modules. There is a lot of reading involved, but with the support of the tutors and the use of study skills plus, I have been able to organise and plan my time effectively.

What projects are you currently working on, both on and off the course?

I have just completed the degree course, and I will be beginning my PGCE with QTS in September, which I am really excited about. In preparation, I’m focusing on strengthening my subject knowledge and reflecting on my teaching practice.

As I’m particularly interested in sustainability in education, I am also exploring the requirements to become a sustainability lead within a school setting. I am also researching how schools can embed sustainable practices into their curriculum and daily routines, and I hope to bring that knowledge into my future teaching role to inspire children.