The core subjects of English, mathematics and science receive extended tuition and are directly linked to the trainees’ classroom experiences; literacy and numeracy form an integral part of this element; information communication technology is taught through the core and foundation subjects and, as a stand-alone component; broad curricular studies: trainees are introduced to a wide range of professional issues encompassing the child as an individual, groups of children, the class and the whole school; emphasis is placed on developing a wide range of approaches to teaching strategies, classroom and behaviour; management and assessing and recording of pupil progress, citizenship, personal and social education; the subjects of art, geography, history, music, physical education and design technology are taught through the programme; trainees also receive tuition in aspects of religious education and cross-curricular themes; placements in 2 schools offer course members experience of differing age ranges and enable them to observe different organisational strategies.