Simon Bushaway, Lead Tutor with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's Adult Learning Service, supports adult learners to build confidence, develop new skills and achieve their educational and career aspirations.
We spoke with him about his role within the service, his commitment to lifelong learning, and the rewarding experiences that make adult education such a valuable and transformative part of the community.
Early Morning
Every day brings something different in adult education, from helping learners overcome challenges to celebrating their successes.
I arrive at work and check in with members of the team. We all share the same goal, to improve people's access to new career opportunities. I organise my teaching materials and prepare the classroom before the learners arrive for a 9.30am start.
I believe in making a point of greeting each learner as they enter the room. It’s important to create a positive classroom environment and ensure that learners feel seen and heard. The lessons are centred around building on core literacy skills and allowing learners to acquire new vocabulary, improve grammar, and understand or gain knowledge on relevant topics.
Late Morning
At the end of lessons, I hand out homework and the learners are always keen to practice their newly acquired literacy skills.
It is a truly rewarding job. I spent time travelling and working abroad, and now I get to share ideas about different cultures with the learners, which allows me to expand my own knowledge.
You can always hear laughter coming from the classroom, learners feel relaxed as opposed to stressed regarding their classes.
One of my favourite aspects of the job is witnessing my learners' achievements in their exams as they work for their qualifications. It is always rewarding to watch someone work hard, overcome challenges and then see their efforts recognised through their results. For many learners, these achievements represent much more than a certificate. They can open doors to further education, training opportunities or employment, helping people take the next step towards their personal and professional goals.
The learners have told me about the immense pride they feel in their academic achievements and how they share it with friends and family both here in the UK and abroad.
Early Afternoon
Afternoons can vary greatly depending on my schedule. I might be in the office marking learners' work, planning upcoming lessons, or reviewing and enhancing teaching resources to ensure they remain engaging and effective. A significant part of my role is making sure lessons are tailored to meet learners' needs and help them progress with confidence.
Continual professional development is also an important part of my day. Education is always evolving, so I regularly take part in up-to-date, research-informed training to develop my teaching practice and stay in line with new approaches. This helps me provide the best possible learning experience and ensures the support I offer is both relevant and effective.
Sometimes I head over to Loftus Hub to deliver English lessons. Having learning opportunities available in different locations across the borough is incredibly important because it helps ensure that everyone in the community can access support close to where they live. Not everyone is able to travel easily, so bringing courses into local venues removes barriers and makes learning more inclusive.
Late Afternoon
No matter where I teach, I am always excited when learners find their feet with the lessons and it just ‘clicks’. Whether the learners are from Loftus, Redcar, Ukraine, Syria, or even Mongolia, it is essential that they all walk away from the lessons feeling empowered.
Learners can develop a wide range of skills that can have a positive impact on their everyday lives. This can include employability skills, personal finance, staying safe within the community and making informed choices to support a healthy lifestyle.
At the end of the day, I take some time to catch up on any marking, administration or lesson planning before packing up and heading home. Reflecting on the progress learners have made is always a rewarding way to finish the day.
I have a strong passion for teaching. Although I have had numerous jobs in the past, from working on a construction site to being an HGV Driver and then Teacher of Art and Design, I find teaching English very rewarding because it enables learners to access the necessary skills to flourish in their lives. This could be writing emails, completing application forms, or developing a passion for reading. Even helping their children with their school studies.
Councillor Lynn Pallister MBE, Cabinet Member for Growth and Enterprise, said: "Simon’s dedication is a wonderful example of the positive impact our Adult Learning Service has across Redcar and Cleveland. Every day, he helps people gain valuable skills, build confidence and take important steps towards further education, employment and personal fulfilment. I am incredibly proud of the work Simon and the wider team do to ensure learning opportunities are accessible, inclusive and responsive to the needs of our communities."