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Department Newsletter

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Welcome

Hello from Castleford College’s Childcare, Early Years & Childhood Studies, and Health, Social Care & Wellbeing departments.

My name is Carla Cantrell and I am thrilled to welcome you to read our departmental newsletter. This newsletter gives you a taste of the exciting college life at Castleford College as well as a glimpse into the dynamic and supportive environment of the department.

In this newsletter, you can find out what our current students have been up to over the past year, from hosting community events to going on enrichment trips and learning vital skills to prepare them for employment.

As the Head of the department, I am continually proud of our students, their hard work and commitment to both their studies and work placements. The department is full of friendly faces who all have something in common – a passion for caring for others.

I hope you enjoy reading through the newsletter and finding out about all the exciting things we have been up to lately.

Good luck in your exams and we look forward to welcoming you in September.

CHILDCARE, EARLY YEARS & CHILDHOOD STUDIES

Carla Cantrell Head of Childcare, Early Years & Childhood Studies and Health, Social Care & Wellbeing

Care Home Visits

Our first-year Health & Social Care students visited Newfield Lodge Care Home to spend time with the residents playing ball games, completing word searches and sharing stories - enriching the residents’ afternoon whilst gaining experience working within the care sector.

Hear from our Students Students Enjoy Early Years Fest at Pontefract

Childcare & Early Years

Maddie

Level 3 Childcare & Early Years

“I chose Castleford College because it allowed me to do the course that would lead to my chosen career. I am studying Level 3 Childcare and Early Years at the moment and would like to go on to Higher Education to train to be a primary school teacher. My tutor has helped me a lot particularly understanding work if I am struggling with it and I really enjoy the placement because it allows us to put everything we have learned into practice.”

Health & Social Care

Cadie

Level 3 Health & Social Care (A*)

Destination: Studying Health & Wellbeing at the University Centre at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group.

“I am studying Health and Social Care because I want to be a social worker in the future. My plan is to pass my course and then move onto the degree course at the University Centre. ”

Our Level 2 Early Years students had a fantastic time at Early Years Fest at Pontefract Park, where they immersed themselves in a day of hands-on workshops, interactive activities and inspiring talks from sector professionals. The event gave students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of child development, explore creative learning environments and gain valuable insights into careers within Early Years education.

Experiences like these help our learners build confidence, develop practical skills and connect what they study in the classroom to real-world practice. A brilliant day of learning, fun and future career inspiration!

Opening Doors to Bright Futures in Health & Social Care

We recently hosted our Health & Social Care Careers Event at Wakefield College, organised by our dedicated department team and supported by an excellent range of employers from across the sector. Students had the opportunity to meet representatives from Family Hubs, Early Help, Adult Social Care, the NHS, local Care Services, Aesthetics providers and the Ambulance Service, gaining first-hand insight into the wide variety of career pathways available.

The event provided learners with a valuable chance to explore future roles, ask questions, build confidence and make meaningful industry connections to support their next steps—whether that be work experience, apprenticeships or future employment. It was a fantastic day that inspired and empowered the next generation of Health & Social Care professionals.

Health & Social Care Work Placements

+ SEN schools

+ Family Hubs

+ Care homes

The Health and Social Care Department offers a variety of placement opportunities that allow our students to gain valuable experience while contributing to the community.

At Castleford College we work closely with a local SEN school where students are given the opportunities to support children 1-to-1 in small classroom environments, providing a helping hand to the teachers and supporting the children with their learning and development.

We also have Family Hubs local to Castleford where students can be part of a fun and engaging team of professionals who provide lots of fun activities for children and supportive groups for young parents.

We work with a Family Centre that provides recreational and educational services for adults with learning difficulties. Students can engage in fun activities that range from football, karaoke, baking, walks around the local town and even supporting the residents to knit and learn other new skills.

Students can also take part in placements in local care homes where they can support residents with their everyday tasks such as getting up out of bed, preparing for visitors, and planning and carrying out activities with residents including craft making.

A Day-in-the-life on Placement at a Primary School

A typical day working in a Primary School could look something like this…

+ Helping to set up the different classroom areas

+ Preparing the snack area for the children

+ Support with registers

+ Lead a baking activity

+ Support children outdoors with activities and games

+ Supervise the Maths area, asking open questions and practicing numeracy

+ Helping the children pack up to leave

+ Prepare the room for the next day

No two days are the same working when with children, they can be challenging but exciting!

Childcare & Early Years Work Placements

+ Registered childminders

+ Nurseries

+ Preschools

+ Infant schools

The Care & Early Years Department offers a variety of placement opportunities that allow our students to gain hands on experience while making a positive impact on young children’s lives.

Activities and jobs students have been assigned to on their placements include:

+ Implementing exciting and engaging activities with groups of children, which have been planned, made, practiced and prepared in College.

+ Lead group story and singing time using the student’s own homemade props and story aids.

+ Responsible for a small group of children whilst on a trip or educational visits.

+ Accompany the childminder to stay and play sessions, school runs and visits to the park.

+ Working in partnership with the teaching team, helping to set up the tables and daily continuous provision activities.

Our Students are supported in both College and by their placement provider, developing skills to become enthusiastic role models and educating young minds through valuable first-hand experiences.

Group Secures Number One Spot for FE College Achievement Rates in the Region

The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group has ranked first in Yorkshire & the Humber for student achievement amongst General Further Education Colleges, also securing fifth place nationally.

This highly impressive result follows a strong performance across the Group’s 16–18 provision, with the latest Department for Education National Achievement Rate Tables (NARTs) for 2024/2025 confirming the Group as the region’s highest-performing FE college for learners aged under 19.

In addition to this success, the Group also achieved fourth place regionally for Apprenticeship achievement rates, further highlighting its strength across further education and skills training.

The results position the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group and its three colleges – Castleford College, Selby College and Wakefield College - as having the best achievement results of all further education colleges in Yorkshire & the Humber region and being the fifth top-performing further education college in England, reflecting the quality of teaching, support and student outcomes delivered across its campuses and programmes.

The NARTs are key summary indicators of performance in education and training and apprenticeships and demonstrate the percentage of students that were awarded their qualifications. Published annually, the national tables rank over 150 colleges.

I am so proud of this phenomenal accolade. Being ranked first in the region for our 16-18 achievement rates and fifth nationally is something we are incredibly proud of and reflects both the ambition of our students and the quality of education and support across the Group. These results are a true reflection of the dedication and care shown by our staff, who go above and beyond every day to help our learners succeed academically, grow as individuals and move forward with confidence into their next steps.”

Sam Wright Principal and Chief Executive at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group

OPEN EVENTS

OCTOBER 2026

MONDAY 19TH OCTOBER: 5PM-7PM

Castleford College

WEDNESDAY 21ST OCTOBER: 5PM-7PM

Wakefield College

NOVEMBER 2026

SATURDAY 21ST NOVEMBER: 10AM-12PM

Wakefield College and Castleford College

FEBRUARY 2027

WEDNESDAY 10TH FEBRUARY: 5PM-7PM

Wakefield College and Castleford College

Combining Castleford College, Selby College and Wakefield College, the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group saw outstanding pass rates in 2024/2025, with Selby College securing a 99% pass rate across its A Level programmes and Wakefield College a 98%. Castleford College and Wakefield College also achieved an impressive 100% pass rate for their T Level courses.

A significant number of its learners also progressed onto employment or higher education, including Russell Group universities such as the University of Oxford, University of Sheffield, University of Nottingham and many more.

Across its colleges, the Group offers a broad range of 16–18 study programmes, including A Levels, T Levels and vocational and technical courses. It also delivers a wide variety of apprenticeships, designed to reflect local labour market needs and support learners into meaningful careers.