From Sessional Staff to Full Time PE Mentor: Daisy's Apprenticeship Story

Daisy did not arrive at her apprenticeship without any background in sport. She had completed her BTEC Level 3 in Sports Coaching and Development at college, started working as a sessional member of staff at Colchester United Community Foundation and had a clear sense of where she wanted her career to go. What she needed was the right next step to take her there properly.

The Level 4 Sports Coach Apprenticeship with Educationwise was that step.

Daisy chose the programme because it felt like the natural progression. She wanted to keep developing her coaching knowledge, gain a higher level qualification and do it in a way that allowed her to keep working and building real experience at the same time. The combination of practical delivery and academic learning was exactly what she was looking for and the structure of the programme reflected that from the very beginning.

A typical week during the apprenticeship involved 26 hours of coaching delivery alongside four hours of dedicated study time. That study time included weekly online calls with her sports tutor, one to one maths support and her own independent study for assignments and research. It was a structure that suited Daisy well. She describes herself as someone who learns better through doing and having the opportunity to apply her academic learning directly to her coaching sessions made a significant difference to how much she took from the programme.

The workload was the most challenging part. Managing coaching commitments alongside assignments and research required a level of discipline that Daisy had not always needed to draw on before. But she was clear that the challenge was worth it. Every time she completed something difficult, she came away with more knowledge and a stronger understanding of what she was doing and why.

The support she received throughout made that challenge manageable. Both her sports tutor and her maths tutor were, in her words, amazing. They were there consistently throughout the journey, available when she needed them and genuinely invested in helping her succeed. Daisy is open about the fact that she would not be where she is today without them.

One of the more unexpected areas of value was Cognassist, which helped Daisy develop her understanding of the psychological side of coaching and how to approach different situations more effectively. It was not something she had anticipated finding particularly valuable but it has shaped the way she works with people in a way that she still draws on today.

The learning itself changed how Daisy approaches coaching in a concrete and lasting way. She now looks at different learning styles and techniques when planning and delivering sessions, adapting her approach to the specific needs of the individuals in front of her. That shift in thinking, from delivering sessions to genuinely understanding the people in them, is one of the most significant things the programme gave her.

But the outcome that Daisy is most proud of is not a technique or a qualification. It is the confidence. She was open about the fact that before the apprenticeship she lacked belief in her own ability as a coach. The programme changed that. She describes herself now as someone who embraces the growth in her confidence and genuinely loves what she does. That shift matters more than any certificate and it is the kind of outcome that stays with a person for the rest of their career.

On completing the Level 4 Sports Coach Apprenticeship, Daisy was offered a full time contract at Colchester United Community Foundation, where she now works as a PE and Sport Mentor. That is the proudest moment of her journey, not just passing the qualification but having that achievement recognised by the organisation she had been part of from the beginning.

Her advice to anyone considering the Level 4 Sports Coach Apprenticeship is straightforward. If you enjoy working with people and you are passionate about sport, do it. And take it one step at a time.

Daisy’s story is a good example of what an apprenticeship looks like when everything works the way it should. A learner who was ready for the next step, a programme that met her where she was and a team around her that made sure she got to the end with everything she needed to build the career she wanted.

That is what we are here for.