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Graduates

Start a purposeful career in Education, Early Years or Children’s Social Care.

Start your graduate journey Where can this lead?

Graduates

Start a purposeful career in Education, Early Years or Children’s Social Care.

Start your graduate journey Where can this lead?

Imagine starting your career by knowing — really knowing — that your daily presence helps a child feel safe, seen and supported.

  • A teenager who finally trusts someone will still be there tomorrow.
  • A nursery child who settles because the same caring face greets them every morning.
  • A pupil who begins to believe in themselves because one steady adult shows up, day after day.

That is the power of consistent relationships.

That is what Shape A Life is built to create.

The Reality Many Graduates Face

You want more than a stopgap job.

You want more than a stopgap job.

You leave university motivated and ready to work with children and young people. Then the reality hits:

⁨⁨⁨Short-term roles that never allow you to build real impact
Unclear routes into teaching, social work or early years
A system that prioritises quick cover over long-term commitment

You want more than a stopgap job.

You want to know if this is the right career for you.

You want meaningful responsibility from the start.

Shape A Life gives you that chance.

What You Do

From day one, you build trust.

You experience the realities of the sector.

From day one, you build trust.

You experience the realities of the sector.

You are carefully matched to one consistent setting. A school. A nursery. A children’s social care service. One setting. One team. Real responsibility.

You become a reliable, daily adult who:

⁨⁨⁨Provides steady, caring presence
Supports young people with additional needs (SEND, SEMH, early development, trauma)
Helps with behaviour, emotional regulation, routines and engagement
Reinforces learning or development in small groups or one-to-one
Works as a valued member of a professional team

From day one, you build trust.

You support progress.

You gain real experience through teacher graduate placements — understanding the realities of working in education.

What you gain

This is not just experience. It is professional clarity.

Through our graduate schemes, you will develop:

  • A deep understanding of what the sector truly demands
  • Hands-on skills in safeguarding, SEND/SEMH support, behaviour
    management, attachment and relational practice
  • Resilience, empathy and strong communication
  • Clear insight into your future through real teacher graduate placements
  • Strong, practice-based references that carry real weight

Many graduates say this experience, gained through our education graduate scheme, shapes their direction more than their degree ever could.

What you gain

Trusted by Leaders and Graduates With over 80 5★ reviews

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Shape a life, specifically Neil, helped me through the whole process!

He was super helpful and the communication and support throughout the whole journey has been brilliant! I couldn’t recommend enough!

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Primary School
Shape a life has been a really helpful agency in helping me to secure my first teaching assistant position.

Katie in particular has been incredibly supportive and has kept me updated throughout the entire process. She has offered great advice and been so helpful in guiding me through this. I would highly recommend to anyone looking to start a career in teaching.

Learning Support Leader, Secondary School
A Very supportive grad scheme, with consistent communications and help,

Enabling me to get my first professional job post university! Special thanks to Katie and the team for setting me on my journey!!

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Primary School
Shape a Life have been absolutely brilliant. After a rocky start at my placement school, Katie and the team at Shape a Life jumped into action to help me thrive at my role.

More than this though, the feedback has been given back to the school and now future placements at the school now have a smoother induction. I couldn’t recommend them anymore! It is very easy to communicate with Shape a Life and they are constantly giving and asking for updates to help you achieve the best.

Learning Support Leader, Secondary School
Shape A Life has been fantastic to work with. Eamon was especially helpful in supporting me through the process and helping me find a role that suited me perfectly.

He was encouraging and always available to answer questions. I’d highly recommend Shape A Life, for graduates looking to start their careers. They care about matching you with the right opportunity and making the transition into work as smooth as possible.

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Primary School
This is my second year working with Shape a Life through their graduate scheme, and my experience has been nothing but positive.

I love working with the students and staff, the environment is supportive, motivating, and truly rewarding. The role has given me valuable hands on experience as a TA and has helped me continue developing my skills year after year. A special mention goes to Freya, my point of contact, who has been amazing throughout my time with the agency. She consistently provides guidance, feedback, and support, making it easy for me to feel confident in my role. I’m really grateful for everything she has done to support me.

Learning Support Leader, Secondary School
Shape A Life has been great  to work with, placing me in a great role in which I feel I’m really making a difference in education.

Rachel has been incredibly helpful and supportive with any and all queries I’ve had, from interview and placement to timesheets, payroll etc. and has always made the process as smooth as possible.

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Primary School
I’ve had an outstanding experience with Shape and Life, and I want to give special recognition to Rachel Scott for her incredible support throughout my recruitment and onboarding process.

From start to finish, Rachel was professional, attentive, and genuinely caring, making every step feel smooth and stress-free. She went above and beyond to answer my questions, keep me informed, and ensure I felt confident and prepared. Rachel is an amazing individual, and I’m truly grateful for the exceptional experience she provided.

Learning Support Leader, Secondary School

Support and Guidance

You are not placed and left alone. We:

  • Match you thoughtfully to the right setting
  • Set clear expectations from day one
  • Stay available for reflection and career conversations
  • Give honest advice, even if another route suits you better

Your growth matters.

Because the young people you support deserve consistency and commitment

Start your graduate journey View Current Opportunities Where can this lead?

Support and Guidance

Where This
Can Lead

This year is not about adding a line to your CV. It is about working in real settings, with real children and young people, and discovering where you belong.

You leave with:

  • Real-world experience in high-responsibility environments
  • Practical safeguarding, SEND, SEMH and relational practice knowledge
  • References based on observed impact
  • Evidence of resilience, empathy and commitment
  • Clear insight into your strengths and long-term direction

Clarity does not narrow your options.
It sharpens them.

Start with responsibility.

Move with clarity.

Choose with confidence.

Education Pathways

Expand

Many graduates realise they are suited to the classroom.Possible routes include:

  • Primary or Secondary Teacher
  • SEN Teacher
  • SENCO
  • Pastoral or Attendance Lead
  • Safeguarding Officer
  • Behaviour or SEMH Specialist

Some progress further into:

  • Educational Psychology
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Advanced SEND postgraduate study

1 in 4 graduates placed in schools progress into Initial Teacher Training the following academic cycle.

When progression happens within the same school:

  • You already know the pupils and systems
  • Onboarding is minimal
  • Retention increases

You are not starting from zero. You are continuing

Early Years Pathways

Expand

For those drawn to early development, progression may include:

  • Qualified Early Years Practitioner
  • Room Leader
  • Early Years Teacher (EYITT)
  • SEN Early Years Specialist
  • Early Intervention or Family Support Worker
  • Postgraduate Early Childhood study

You enter these roles understanding attachment, communication

development and emotional security from lived experience

Social Care Pathways

Expand

Graduates drawn to relational care may 
progress into:

  • Residential Support Worker
  • Senior Residential Practitioner
  • Youth Support Worker
  • Family Support Worker
  • Leaving Care Personal Advisor
  • Social Work (via Step Up, Frontline or MA routes)
  • Youth Justice or safeguarding roles

You step forward already understanding boundaries, trauma and the impact of consistent adults.

Cross-Sector & 
Specialist Roles

Expand

Some graduates discover strengths that span sectors:

  • Educational or Clinical Psychologist
  • Counsellor or Play Therapist
  • Behaviour Analyst
  • SEND or Inclusion Consultant
  • Policy or reform roles in children’s services

This year does not limit you.

It positions you.

Why this matters

Many talented professionals leave teaching, early years or social care within the first few years. Often because they committed before fully understanding the reality of the role.

This year removes guesswork.

You test the work in a supported, paid, long-term setting. You discover your fit with clarity. You choose your path with confidence.

That is how strong professionals are built. That is how sectors retain talent. That is how children gain consistent adults.

Start your graduate journey View Current Opportunities

Why this matters