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Looking for a rewarding career that makes a real impact? Join our Shaping Lives apprenticeship programme and become part of a passionate community dedicated to shaping the future of childcare. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to upskill, our apprenticeships offer hands-on experience, expert guidance, and the opportunity to work in nurturing environments.
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Functional Skills Maths and English Workshops
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Apprentice
Across Paragon Skills and Shaping Lives, we have a team of Functional Skills experts who deliver around 20 workshops each week, to support the learners we have on programme. We try to accommodate our learners, so 4 of these are delivered on evenings. The workshops we deliver for maths and English different from most other…
How Cognitive Overload is Derailling Young Talent and How Employers Can Fix It
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Apprentice
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Employer
By Dr Andy Hogg SEND Subject Matter Expert for Shaping Lives The cliff edge between the structured safety of full-time education and the unpredictable, high-stakes world of the adult workplace has never been steeper, and it is quietly derailing the early careers of our youngest workforce. Across almost every sector of the economy, a frustrating…
Challenging Behaviour: What If We’ve Been Asking the Wrong Question?
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Uncategorized
By Dr Andy Hogg SEND Subject Matter Expert for Shaping Lives Over the past 30 years, I have worked with children and young people across mainstream schools, special schools, international schools and alternative provisions. During that time, one belief I have held has remained constant: All behaviour is communication. When a child displays what we…
Navigating the Shift: What the Closing of the SEND Consultation Means for Parents and Education Providers Ahead of 2029
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SEND
By Dr Andy Hogg SEND Subject Matter Expert for Shaping Lives The window has officially slammed shut. On May 18, 2026, the government closed its 12-week consultation window on the highly anticipated SEND White Paper, “SEND reform: putting children and young people first.” For months, the sector has been abuzz with debate over this overhaul,…
Who are the SEND Gatekeepers?
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SEND
By Dr Andy Hogg, Shaping Lives. I have been supporting a mother who was recently told, quite flatly, that her child would not qualify for an Education, Health and Care Plan. The school staff did not suggest they would try and fail; they simply told her it was not appropriate to explore. They said he…
Upskilling the workforce to tackle the SEND crisis
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SEND
By Dr Andy Hogg, Shaping Lives. As we continue in the midst of the continuing and growing SEND crisis, with rising pupil numbers and increasingly complex needs, schools are facing “rising pressure” and unprecedented scrutiny from Ofsted. the right support, we risk children dropping out of the education system and this continued failure has profound…
Being There for Learners: A Tutor’s Perspective on Confidence, Inclusion, and Belonging
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Uncategorized
By Karl Eaveson, Personal Tutor at Shaping Lives. Behind every successful apprenticeship is a web of support that often goes unseen; the quiet encouragement, the honest conversations, and the reassurance offered at just the right moment. At Shaping Lives, we believe these relationships are just as important as the qualifications themselves. As a Personal Tutor,…
Dr Andy Hogg – The Inclusion Journey: Why Early Years is the Frontline of the SEND Crisis
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Apprentice
Dr. Andy Hogg is a highly experienced education professional and the founder of The Support School (TSS). He has over 30 years of experience supporting pupils with additional needs across the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) spectrum and in English as an Additional Language (EAL/ESOL). Andy works for Shaping Lives as a Learning Support…
Shaping Your Tomorrow, Today: National Apprenticeship Week 2026
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Apprentice
Today marks the start of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2026, running from 9th–15th February 2026, a moment that brings people and organisations across the country together to celebrate the incredible difference apprenticeships make. From shaping meaningful careers to supporting strong and confident teams, this weeklong celebration highlights how apprenticeships open doors, build essential skills, and create opportunities…
Childcare apprenticeships vs college, which is right for you?
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Apprentice
Choosing your next step can feel exciting and a little overwhelming, especially when both options seem good. If you are thinking about a career in early childhood education, you might be wondering whether a childcare apprenticeship or a college course will help you get there faster. The good news is that both routes can open…
