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Department Newsletter

selby.ac.uk

Welcome

Hello from Selby 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 Selby 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.

Hands-On Learning in Action: From World Book Day to Hospital Tours

Our T Level Education and Early Years and Level 2 Early Years learners demonstrated fantastic creativity and planning skills as they designed and delivered a range of engaging activities for World Book Day. Nursery children were invited over to take part in the fun, and the day was made even more memorable with a special prehistoric visit from Timmy the Triceratops, an experience that delighted learners and little ones alike.

Meanwhile, our Level 3 Health and Social Care learners had the invaluable opportunity to step behind the scenes during an in-depth visit to York Hospital. They received a guided tour, explored key clinical areas and engaged in meaningful conversations with healthcare professionals, including specialist surgeons. The visit offered real insight into potential career pathways and the realities of working within the NHS.

Keep your eyes peeled for feedback and highlights from our upcoming Speed-Dating Event, where our learners will have the exciting opportunity to meet a range of provider specialists from both Care and Early Years settings and professions.

This interactive event is designed to give learners a real insight into the sector, build confidence and help them make valuable professional connections. We can’t wait to share their experiences and reflections with you - watch this space!

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

Rewarding hard work with enrichment!

To reward our learners for their hard work in the first half-term and to build group dynamics, the entire department enjoyed an enrichment visit to Xscape in Castleford. It was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to unwind, have fun, and develop essential teamwork skills through collaborative team activities.

A huge well done to all learners and staff involved for making these experiences such a success.

Hear from our Students

Childcare & Early Years

Tia

Level 1 Childcare & Early Years

“I’m on the Early College Transfer programme and have found that College is a much friendlier environment than school because you’re treated like adults. I’ve enjoyed making friends and learning about how to care for children. I’d love to work in a nursery one day.”

Health & Social Care

Olivia

Level 2 Health & Social Care

“I always enjoyed Health & Social Care when studying it at school so I chose this course because it will give me a head start in the industry. I’m gaining a deeper understanding of the different aspects of healthcare and I’m able to put this into practice at my work placement in a local pharmacy. After taking part in a midwifery session at York Hospital, I want to go to university to train to become a midwife.”

Practical skills in Childcare

Our childcare learners are actively participating in practical activities that are essential for their future roles. These include tasks such as changing nappies, which help them develop the skills needed to care for infants and toddlers.

Opening Doors to Bright Futures in Health & Social Care

We recently hosted our Health & Social Care Careers Event at Selby 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

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

We work with local providers who offer several rewarding placements, these include, Care Homes where students have the opportunity to work with the elderly, providing companionship and support in their daily lives as well as developing skills and competencies to enhance your knowledge of later life and supporting this life stage. Nursing homes provide care for patients with more complex needs, such as those requiring hands-on nursing support or those living with dementia. Students have the opportunity to observe the challenges of meeting these needs while developing valuable employability skills for the future.

Local Pharmacies provide the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a pharmaceutical setting, learning about medication management and patient care.

SEN Schools and private provision provide opportunities for students to develop skills working with special educational needs, helping children and young adults achieve their full potential whilst also providing opportunity for multiagency working in supporting individuals with complex needs.

This year we are proud to be developing links with the Council and Family Support Team who collaborate with local authorities to provide essential support to families and vulnerable individuals. This can include support with daily living, healthy lifestyles and managing challenging behaviours.

+ Care homes

+ Residential nursing homes

+ Dementia provisions

+ SEN providers

+ Pharmacies

+ Family support services

+ Nursing homes

+ GP surgeries

Dissections

Our Year 2 Health students took part in a skills session about Anatomy and Physiology where students visited the College’s laboratories to learn and practice skills in dissections using real hearts. This practical session ensured the students were applying their theoretical knowledge in practice, helping deepen their understanding of the complex concept of anatomy and prepare them for success in the workforce.

Childcare & Early Years Work Placements

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

Students can choose from several exciting placements including Primary Schools where students have the opportunity to work with teachers and early years professionals to support young children in their learning journey.

We work collaboratively with a wide range of local nursery providers where students will have the opportunity to work with either babies, toddlers, or preschool children, supporting their growth and development through nurturing care and engaging activities. All these placements enable our students to work in line with curricular requirements and develop knowledge of development milestones and frameworks and how to use these in practice.

We also have opportunities to work with childminders who allow students to gain experience in providing personalised care and education in a home-based setting.

We work closely with the local SEN provision where our students have the opportunity to assist in special educational needs settings, helping children with diverse needs achieve their full potential. This can include working alongside specialists such as physical therapists, speech and language specialists and early help workers.

+ Nurseries

+ Primary schools

+ SEN providers

+ Childminders

+ Family support services

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

SATURDAY 17TH OCTOBER: 10AM-12PM

NOVEMBER 2026

WEDNESDAY 18TH NOVEMBER: 5PM-7PM

FEBRUARY 2027

WEDNESDAY 3RD FEBRUARY: 5PM-7PM

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.