Lauren’s Early Years journey from T Level to higher education

For T Levels Week 2026, we’re celebrating the different opportunities that T Levels can open up, including progressing into higher education. We spoke to Lauren, for whom studying the T Level in Early Years & Education at College was just the beginning. She’s now continuing her studies with us on the Level 4 HNC in Leadership in the Early Years, building on her existing knowledge and taking another step towards her future career.

From hands-on experience to higher education

One of the things Lauren enjoyed most about her T Level was the opportunity to gain practical experience through industry placements. Working in a real-life early years setting helped her connect what she was learning in the classroom with the realities of the workplace.

“The placement side of it allowed me to get hands-on experience in an actual job role. It also allowed me to take what we were learning from the classroom into an actual placement and understand it better,” Lauren explained.

With ambitions to become a teacher, Lauren knew she wanted to continue learning and develop her knowledge before entering the profession. When her T Level teacher introduced her to the HNC, she felt it was the right next step.

Having already studied at the College, Lauren was also able to continue in a familiar environment, allowing her to focus on her studies while building on the relationships and confidence she had developed during her T Level.

Taking her knowledge further

Now studying at Level 4, Lauren is developing a deeper understanding of early years practice and the reasons behind different approaches to supporting children.

“I feel like we’re taking that core knowledge and diving deeper into understanding why we do a certain thing and giving reasoning as to why it is important to do what we do.”

Her studies are also helping her develop a particular interest in supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Lauren hopes to become a qualified teacher in the future, progressing to Level 6 and gaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). She is also considering a career supporting children with SEND, potentially working in a specialist school or within a school’s SEND department.

The HNC is helping her work towards these ambitions by developing her understanding of how to put the right support in place for children with additional needs.

“It’s given me more knowledge on how to help SEND children and how to specifically put things in place to support them in a classroom where they may not be getting the most support. I can take that with me throughout my career and always work to improve on it in whatever school I end up in.”

Continuing her journey at Abingdon & Witney College

For Lauren, progressing into higher education at the College has meant being able to continue her education close to home, while benefiting from a supportive learning environment. She particularly values the relationships she has built with staff, explaining that the support doesn't end when students move on to a different course.

“Even now that I’m not being taught by them, I know that I can go back to them and they’ll always have their door open for any one of our students. They’ll always try their best to support you in whatever way you need to.”

Lauren believes staying local can be a great option for students who want to continue their education but aren't quite ready to move away from home.

“If you feel like you’re not personally ready to go somewhere far away, I feel like it’s a good choice to stay close to home. You end up learning the same skills as you do at uni.”

Your next step could start with a T Level

Lauren’s journey shows how a T Level can provide the practical experience, knowledge and confidence to progress into further study and work towards long-term career goals.

By moving from the T Level in Early Years and Education to the Level 4 HNC in Leadership in the Early Years, she’s continuing to build the skills she needs for a future working with children, while exploring the different career paths available to her.

Interested in a T Level or looking to progress into Higher Education? Explore the courses available at Abingdon & Witney College and find your next step.