Edge Hill University, BA (Hons), Early Years Education

This course is suitable for trainees who wish to teach young children, and leads to a recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS); the course enables students to develop a comprehensive understanding of young children and how to support their development and education in schools and settings; the student also develops a thorough knowledge and understanding of a range of issues related to early years education and care and is skilled in monitoring and managing their own development and learning; this course has 4 strands to it; within personal and professional development, the student learns how to study effectively in higher education and take charge of their own development as a trainee teacher; the student also develops all the skills needed to be an excellent classroom teacher, such as assessment and management; secondly, the student studies the curriculum so they have a broad and balanced knowledge, enabling them to provide stimulating and imaginative learning experiences; this allows the student to develop a thorough understanding of the early years foundation stage and the core primary subjects of English, mathematics, science, and information and communication technology in depth; the student studies all of the primary foundation subjects and religious education; the 3rd strand is enhancement, which involves studying areas that link with the curriculum, such as social and behavioural development of young children; the final aspect is the student’s school/setting-based training strand; across all 3 years, the student undertakes placements in a wide variety of settings.