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PGCE Early Years

This one year full-time course is focused on the Foundation Stage and Key Stage One. You will therefore be able to teach children between the ages of 3 and 7.

All aspects of understanding children’s learning and development in this area will be studied in order to prepare you to become a teacher in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage One of the Primary phase.

3 modules are studied at Masters level to give you 60 credits towards a future Masters course.

On completion of the PGCE Early Years you will be able to teach as a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) within the Early Years sector in either Foundation Stage or Key Stage one.  You may additionally be considered as having the knowledge, skills and training to work in a Special School.

We have worked closely for many years with local schools and Early Years providers to train those who work within the Early Years sector. Key senior staff from these schools and providers have helped us put together your year’s training. This important factor ensures your course is written to meet the needs of schools and Early Years settings and will improve your employability as an Early Years teacher.

Besides achieving qualified teacher status(QTS) you will additionally work for a Post Graduate Certificate in Education(PGCE) at Masters level, which is accredited by the University of Birmingham. The work for your PGCE is integrated within the QTS programme.

Course Content

The course particularly focuses on three separate themes relating to Early Years:

  • Behaviour Management 
  • Working with Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
  • Working with children who use English as an Additional Language (EAL)

You will cover the full range of knowledge and skills necessary to meet the QTS standards in a carefully structured programme. Additionally you will cover three modules which are covered in more detail in the modules tab below.

Running throughout the three modules are our three specialist themes focusing on behaviour management, understanding and developing strategies to work with children who have a range of special needs and working with children who use English as an Additional Language.

Assessment

You will be continuously assessed whilst on the programme through your coursework, written assignments and your practical performance within your schools. In order to become a qualified teacher you will need to satisfy all the Standards for the Award of Qualified Teacher Status.

You also will need to complete assignments to cover the PGCE element and these written assessments at Masters level, link clearly with your placement programme.

You will keep a Professional Development Journal, which will enable you to keep evidence of your progress against the QTS standards.

You will be regularly observed by Mentors within your placement.

Industrial Placement

You will spend a minimum of 90 days within our partnership schools, working alongside our trained Mentors. They will work with you to build your confidence so you can gradually take responsibility for whole class teaching.

Even though there is a fully structured programme, the focus of the course is on helping you to work individually in order to gain the most benefit from this training programme. Right from the start, we help you to recognise your own strengths and develop plans and targets to achieve the highest standard possible for the children you work with. Early identification of areas where you specifically need support will assist you to make the most of the range of strategies we have in place to help you become a successful teacher.

This course is covered by a Code of Professional Conduct and Fitness to Practise .

We particularly welcome applicants who are under-represented within the early years teaching profession, including ethnic minority and male candidates.

Read the real life experiences of our students here.

UCB has been recognised in the recently published 2010 Good Teacher Training Guide as a top quality provider of Initial Teacher Education for its Post Graduate Certificate in Education programme (PGCE), read more.

Degree programmes accredited by the University of Birmingham . Visit the Awarding of Degrees page for more information.