Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Early Years) (PGCE)

One year full-time (September - July)

This intensive one-year course is designed for graduates wishing to become highly committed and creative professionals working with children aged three to seven years.

The course supports trainees in developing the skills, knowledge and understanding required to demonstrate the teachers standards for teaching required by the Department for Education (Teaching Agency).

On successful completion, trainees are recommended for and awarded Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Teaching approaches are highly interactive, being delivered by a team of tutors with expertise in both the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and at primary level. The course prepares trainees to become teachers of the EYFS and the National Curriculum at Key Stage 1.

Trainees will also study professional issues including organisation, the role of play in learning, behaviour management, planning, assessment, equal opportunities, inclusion, parent partnership and working with other agencies.

The course contains two distinct strands; professional and academic, with two additional modules at Masters level 7. Trainees will work on both strands and if successful will receive a Postgraduate Certificate in Education with QTS and 60 credits towards an MA in Education.

A substantial part of the course will be spent in partner settings and schools, which will enable trainees to develop capability in practical teaching in a range of educational contexts. Indeed, by the end of the course, the student will have had different experiences across three different key stages.

During the year there are three special curriculum weeks when the student will study a topic in depth. These include performance arts, the outdoor curriculum and inclusion.

The course comprises of four major professional modules studied at level 6 and two modules at level 7.

The level 6 modules focus on:

• Core subjects and Early Years Pedagogy and Practice - including Mathematics, English, Science and ICT and aspects of effective early years practice
• Foundation Subjects and Early Years Foundation Stage Studies - includes History, Geography, Art, Music, Design Technology and the areas of learning and development of the EYFS
• Professional Studies
• School Experience

The level 7 modules are:

• MA module 2 - Classroom/Setting-based Research
• MA module 1 - Teaching and Learning
  

Reading lists will be supplied at the start of the course.

Assessment is continuous and includes written assignments and practical teaching. Partner schools share the responsibility for assessment.

Trainees qualify to practise across the three to seven age range, thus giving them access to a teaching career in early years' settings and primary schools. The PGCE course has excellent employment success among its graduates.