Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYTS) PGCE
About this course
The early years play a vital part in shaping a child’s lifelong development. Early years teachers facilitate the development of young children from birth to 5 years. They plan, organise and run a wide range of play-based learning and structured activities for young children in a nurturing environment. They also work closely with parents, guardians and social workers to ensure continuity of care.
Whether you’ve just graduated or are employed in an early years setting, studying with us will provide you with the knowledge and understanding required to give children the best start in life. At NTU, we’re working to raise the status of the early years workforce. You’ll be taught by staff with extensive experience of working with children and families, who will support you in becoming a professional, knowledgeable and skilled early years teacher.
You’ll be equipped with the subject knowledge and professional skills demanded by early years settings, completing the course as a confident and resilient practitioner. You’ll help to foster healthy development and unlock the potential of every child.
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You’ll be recommended for accreditation for Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) with the Department for Education upon course completion, allowing you to work with higher ratios in an early years setting. -
Course fees are covered by the DfE funding and generous funding is available for employers on the graduate employment route. -
You’ll gain 60 credits towards a full Masters degree by studying the Professional Leadership and Knowledge of Early Learning and EYFS module at Masters level. -
You’ll have the option of studying an optional forest school module with access to our Clifton Forest School.
What you’ll study
This course has two pathways, graduate entry and an employment route. The employment route is for Early Years practitioners who wish to attain an Early Years Teacher qualification and allows trainees to study alongside their employed post.
The modules have been developed to support you in meeting all Teachers’ Standards (Early Years), while working in an Early Years setting with children aged 0 to 5 and their families.
Early Years Professional Practice (Non-credit bearing)
- Covering all three terms, this module will equip you with the knowledge and skills required for a career in Early Years teaching.
- You’ll put together a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate you meet the Teachers' Standards (Early Years).
- You’ll consider your own experiences and share practice with other professionals during your study, as well as evidencing teaching practice.
Education Policy and Practice in Early Years (20 credit points)
- Studying this module, you’ll explore the importance of educational policy making process and its impact on teaching and learning in Early Years settings.
- You’ll cover various influences on policy, analysis and processes of policy formulation, implementation and evaluation at local, national, regional and global level.
Responding to the Strengths and Needs of All Children (40 credit points)
- Studying this module, you’ll be prepared to respond to the strengths and needs of all children, taking into account how your knowledge of children and families informs your practice and approaches.
- You’ll cover observation, planning and assessment, and how to adapt programmes to meet the differing needs of children.
- You’ll assess methods of working in partnership with parents, carers and other professionals to support children’s holistic learning and development.
Professional Leadership in Early Years (20 credit points)
- Studying this module, you’ll explore, examine, use and apply a range of leadership and management skills.
- You’ll consider the fundamental principles, approaches and strategies for leadership and management in Early Years, and you’ll reflect on how this supports your professional practice.
Knowledge of Early Learning and Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) (40 credit points)
- You’ll reflect how young children learn, grow and develop holistically, and consider this against theoretical viewpoints, current research and frameworks.
- Studying this module, you’ll explore approaches to the teaching of early literacy and mathematics through planning for possibilities which support your professional practice.
- You’ll consider how Early Years Frameworks apply in practice to inspire, motivate and challenge all children.
An Introduction to Forest Schools Principles (Non-credit bearing)
- This module will support you to use, plan for and engage in outdoor activities with young children.
- You’ll experience a range of open-ended activities outdoors, explore national and international perspectives and recognise effective approaches.
- As part of this module, you’ll submit a portfolio to the awarding body for Level 1 Forest Schools certificate Introduction to Forest School Principles.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
Q&A - PGCE Early Years Initial Teacher Training
How you're taught
Study mode
For those following the graduate entry route, the course will run full-time through the academic year.
For those following the employment route, the course will run part-time with modules running through the academic year and use a range of teaching methods designed to fit around your working life.
Both the graduate entry route and the employment route are taught on campus with some evening teaching online.
Placements
At the centre of the course delivery is the development and maintenance of a strong collaborative partnership with Early Years settings, schools and other relevant professional organisations. These partnerships play a crucial role in supporting you to develop your teaching practices in the Early Years setting; and developing a strong network of professional colleagues across the sector.
Trainee early years teachers need breadth and variety of early years experiences to meet the Teachers’ Standards (Early Years). You will need to teach children from different contexts and across the birth to 5 age range, as well as gaining experience of different approaches to teaching and to early years settings.
Graduate entry route
Those following the graduate entry route are placed in three settings across the course to ensure they develop their experiences across the age range. You’ll benefit from 120 days of practice across the course.
Places on the graduate entry route are limited as they are capped by the DfE. Therefore, places are confirmed on a first come first served basis. If you meet your conditions after the course is full you will be placed on a waiting list and contacted should a place become available.
Employment route
All applicants undertaking the employment route must be employed for a minimum of 15 hours per week in a setting providing the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Your employer will be required to confirm their support to you for the duration of the programme.
In addition to their employed base setting trainees on the employment route have two external placements that are sourced by the University. The first is a 30-day alternative age placement and the second a 10-day school-based placement.
Your setting will receive funding from the DfE to support you to attend required additional placements.
How you're assessed
Throughout the course you will be asked to undertake a series of assessments. The variety of these assessments provides a maximum opportunity for you to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and abilities of the Teachers’ Standards (Early Years).
Assessment methods include:
- portfolio
- presentation
- academic essay
- case study.
Contact hours
Both the graduate entry route and the employment route are taught on campus one day a week with some evening teaching online. Approximately 70% of your teaching time is in person on campus and the other 30% is online in the evening on the weeks where you have an in person visit from university lead mentor. It is expected that you will manage your own independent study.
Careers and employability
The Early Years Initial Teacher Training PGCE allows you to teach children from birth to 5 years in a variety of settings, including private nurseries, pre-schools, and reception classes in academies and independent schools. Free Schools, alternate provision and academies can employ teaching staff without the requirement for them to hold QTS.
The course has been designed to support you to gain employment in leadership roles within an Early Years setting, such as:
- Early Years Teacher
- Early Years Managers
- Room leaders
- Early Years Advisor/Consultant
Graduates may use their masters-level credit to pursue an MA in Education.
If you’d like to know more about NTU’s groundbreaking Employability Promise, and the support you’ll receive both during and after your course, visit our Careers and Employability page.
Campus and facilities
As an Early Years Initial Teacher Training student you’ll mainly be studying in the Ada Byron King building, home to Nottingham Institute of Education. You will benefit from our specially designed teaching rooms simulating primary classrooms for design and technology, music, art and science. These purpose-built classrooms will help prepare you for a future in teaching, giving you the chance to gain hands-on experience in a realistic environment.
Our self-contained, community-focused Clifton Campus has been designed to keep our students busy between lectures. Catch-up with your coursemates in the Pavilion’s barista café and Refectory; brainstorm group presentations in chic and stylish study spaces; enjoy some proper R&R in The Point, home of our Students’ Union. The campus also hosts the multimillion-pound Clifton Sports Hub, offering great options for everyone — whatever your interests, and however competitive you’d like to get!
You’re also right next to the bright lights of Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. All through termtime, a dedicated on-campus bus service will get you to the heart of the action (and back) in under 25 minutes. You’ll find a city stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure: enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.
Take our virtual tour to get a real feel for the campus.
Entry requirements
UK students
- A UK degree or equivalent; and
- GCSE English, Mathematics and Science at minimum grade C or equivalent are compulsory. We accept the GCSE equivalency taken via equivalencytesting.com or astarequivalency.co.uk. If you have pending qualifications, you will still be considered but you must achieve the required grades before beginning your course. If necessary, you can take GCSEs as a private candidate. Find out how to do this on the AQA website.
- an interview.
In addition to this for the employment route you will need:
- one year’s work experience in a related role; current employment in a related field; and
- paid employment with an Early Years setting for at least 15 hours per week during the assessment period; and
- written support from your employer.
Additional requirements for UK students
- an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, and any other safeguarding checks that may be necessary
There is no longer a requirement to complete Department for Education Professional Skills Tests.
International students
Academic entry requirements: A UK degree or equivalent. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international qualifications on our international entry requirements page.
Other requirements: GCSE English, Mathematics and Science at minimum grade C /4 or equivalent. We accept the GCSE equivalency taken via equivalencytesting.com or astarequivalency.co.uk. If you have pending qualifications, you will still be considered but you must achieve the required grades before beginning your course. If necessary, you can take GCSEs as a private candidate. Find out how to do this on the AQA website. You will also be required to take part in an interview.
In addition to this for the employment route you will need:
- one year’s work experience in a related role; current employment in a related field; and
- paid employment with an Early Years setting for at least 15 hours per week during the assessment period; and
- written support from your employer.
English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.
Additional requirements for international students
There are no additional requirements for this course.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
