‘You need to Maslow before Bloom’

Working as a primary teacher in a deprived socio-economic part of the South Wales valleys, I witnessed the profound impact that adverse childhood experiences can have on children's mental health. It was heart breaking to see anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues impact children's learning at such a young age. I provided support, but I felt an overwhelming desire to go beyond and make a bigger difference in the lives of these children.

This led me to pursue a career change, and enrolling in the MSc Psychology conversion course at Cardiff University became my first step towards a fulfilling journey in educational psychology.

The despondent teacher

Teaching is often misunderstood as a job that involves showing up at school by 8:30, delivering ready-made lessons to a group of identical students, and walking out the door at 3pm. In reality, it's much more diverse, multifaceted and challenging.

My typical day started with making sure that children who came to school hungry had something to eat or providing a space for sleep-deprived children, who were too tired to engage in their learning, to rest and relax. Often, I did this before even taking the register. In Abraham Maslow's terms, it's about taking care of the basic levels in the hierarchy of needs before the children have the opportunity to bloom.

The rest of my day consisted of teaching lessons in differentiated ways to cater to the diverse needs of all students. I also met with parents, dealt with challenging behaviour in children, and provided targeted interventions for children with specific educational targets and additional learning needs.

There were times after a troubling safeguarding incident or dealing with policy and budget issues that I would come home and find myself in tears, overwhelmed by the feeling that I wasn't doing enough for the children in my care.

Nevertheless, I had the privilege of collaborating with a team of professionals, including educational psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, and a supportive Additional Learning Needs Coordinator. Among them, the educational psychologist role stood out to me the most. Their dedication and support for children, families, and teachers was truly inspiring. From conducting in-depth assessments to recommending appropriate interventions and organising child-centred meetings, they always put the child's well-being first. I strongly believe that every child deserves an opportunity to thrive regardless of their circumstances, so witnessing their commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of children from various backgrounds motivated me.

A new career path

From that moment on, I made a firm decision to equip myself with the knowledge to comprehend the human brain better and use my enthusiasm to enhance children's life chances at a pivotal age. My ultimate goal is to become an educational psychologist and facilitate better support for those who struggle to engage with learning in the classroom.

I enrolled in the MSc Psychology conversion course in September 2023 and haven't looked back. It's amazing how my studies have revealed that I've been unconsciously using psychological principles to support my students all this time. Addressing their basic needs was crucial in encouraging their behaviour, while creating strong relationships with both children and their families played a vital role in shaping their cognitive development. It's clear to me now that some of my students were exhibiting signs of insecure attachments, which is why they struggled to build healthy relationships.

Discovering key insights

Leaving a stable job to go back to university was daunting at first. The shift from being a teacher to becoming a student again was a big adjustment. The financial aspect was a worry too, and leaving a steady income felt risky. With the course being just a year long, the intense timetable and deadlines leave little time for part-time work. I am grateful to have a supportive partner who has helped alleviate the financial burden, as we now depend solely on his income.

Despite the obstacles, I really feel that studying psychology at Cardiff University has been a rewarding and fulfilling journey. It has allowed me to explore a wide range of interesting topics in child and educational psychology and has opened new opportunities to propel my career forward.

The developmental and clinical psychology module truly stands out in my mind. This module focused on attachment theory, early communication and language development, and research techniques in child cognitive and social development. A highlight of this module was the opportunity to engage in psychological formulation role play. This interactive experience allowed me to apply the theories I had studied. Collaborating with my classmates during these exercises was not only enriching, but since the cohort comes from various backgrounds, it also provided me with different perspectives to broaden my understanding.

I learned a lot from another module that explored the complex mechanisms of the human brain. It was fascinating to see how information processing can serve as a powerful tool in memory, and speech and language. I also discovered the significant impact that early life experiences have on our ability to learn, remember, and grow. One of the most captivating parts of the module was exploring how early encounters shape our perception of the world and greatly influence our future relationships and emotional regulation.

I had the opportunity to choose from various novel projects led by the school's academics for the research component of the course. With the guidance of Dr Katy Burgess, I am currently exploring the potential of the testing effect within an inclusive educational setting. This invaluable experience has truly opened my eyes to the influence that educational psychology research can have on improving the learning environment for children facing challenges.

Next steps towards my future goals

My journey on the conversion course isn't over yet, and the most exciting part is still to come. The placement element of the course greatly appealed to me, and I have successfully secured a summer placement with an educational psychology service within a diverse socioeconomic area of Wales. This opportunity is invaluable as it allows me to gain first-hand experience of the expertise the service provides, which because of confidentiality issues cannot be achieved through voluntary positions. During the placement, I will have the chance to shadow and collaborate with educational psychologists in the field, familiarise myself with the tools, frameworks, and approaches they use, and participate in a small-scale research project.

In the near future, I plan to submit my application for the Doctorate in Educational Psychology programme at Cardiff University, known for its high level of competitiveness. With a limited number of available places, typically just reaching double digits, I am fully aware that this endeavour will require careful consideration and thorough preparation. However, I am confident that my dedication, hard work, and perseverance will shine through, leading to success in this pursuit.

I aspire to help children who have experienced trauma and enable them to unlock their potential and lead happy, healthy lives while confidently facing life's obstacles. This passion to nurture continues to drive my desire to be at the forefront of educational psychology, equipped to provide a more informed intervention that focuses on the individual child, and I am so glad I took that first step.

Abigail Catrin Dally

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