Primary Early Years PGCE

University of Bedfordshire

Develop as a creative, innovative and reflective teacher specialising in working with the youngest children (aged 3-7). Through specialist placements in Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1, you build a secure understanding of early years teaching and learning, supported by experienced early years and primary teachers, while your University-based sessions focus on general professional issues; the National Curriculum; and aspects of teaching such as lesson planning and assessment.There is the option to take this course part time over two years, making it easier to balance study with your other commitments. What will you study? Studying our Primary Early Years PGCE course will equip you with in-depth knowledge and skills around education, teaching and curriculum. You will start by building your understanding of teaching and learning, as well as how to apply that knowledge into practice in our Evidence Informed Primary Teacher (Level 7) unit. Based on key literature, you will focus on developing evidence-informed teaching and subsequently be critical of your own practice in The Reflective Primary Teacher (Level 7) unit. This will help you prepare for work within complex and unpredictable early years classroom settings that demand innovative thinking and actions. In areas of practice, you will have the opportunity to undertake a school placement where you will build your experience to independently plan and deliver lessons based on your observations and learning in our School Experience 1 – The Primary Early Years Teacher unit. You will learn to apply useful management strategies in a school context while aligning with behaviour management policy. In the second part of this unit; School Experience 2 – The Primary Early Years Teacher; you will continue to develop and apply your experience from the first unit while also learning methods to adapt teaching, effective use of assessment and to promote good progress. CareersOn graduating you can apply for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) enabling you to work as a teacher in an early years or primary education setting. Many of our graduates go on to rewarding employment in local schools.There are also opportunities to progress to further study at MA/MSc MPhil PhD and EdD levels.