Modules

Part-time

The EYITT programme has been developed to provide you with the knowledge, skills and understanding to meet all the Early Years Teachers’ Standards and develop as a reflective practitioner.

Throughout the EYITT programme you will complete three modules. These are Teaching and Learning and the EYFS Curriculum, Developing Action-Based Research, and Professional Practice (EYITT).

Teaching and Learning and the EYFS Curriculum

This module is designed to introduce the key ideas that will underpin your practice. You will develop your understanding of all Areas of Learning within the EYFS Framework and consider theoretical perspectives on child development and learning.

The module enables you to develop an understanding of practice for providing young children with rich experiences that foster all that is central to children’s intellectual, creative, social, physical and emotional development.

Developing Action-Based Research

This module draws on the expertise of active researchers in the field of early education and care. Taught sessions outline the process and principles underpinning the action research approach, and early childhood researchers present key elements of their own research.

You will develop an understanding of the action research process and key components of undertaking research within EYFS settings. You will complete your own research project, within your EYFS setting, to consider the potential of, and barriers to, implementing changes to practice within EYFS settings. This is intended to further develop your approach to interpreting your influence upon children’s experiences and impact upon children’s development.

Professional Practice (EYITT)

Throughout the year, within the Professional Practice Module, you will undertake placements in two different EYFS settings. The first placement (Setting Experience 1) covers the upper age-phases (3-5yrs and KS1), and the second (Setting Experience 2) covers the lower (0-3yrs). Both are split into three parts, to ensure that you gain experience of teaching all age-groups (3-4yrs, 4-5yrs, and KS1 in Setting Experience 1, and 0-1yrs, 1-2yrs and 2-3yrs in Setting Experience 2). The aim of each period of Setting Experience is to provide opportunities for you to work progressively towards demonstrating competent practice and ability to meet the Early Years Teachers’ Standards. Trainees on the Employment Pathway also use experience from their employment setting to evidence their teaching against the required standards.

Throughout all Setting Experiences, you will receive support from Setting Mentors and an IOE Supervision Tutor. You are encouraged to reflect upon your own progress and observation of your practice is designed to facilitate professional dialogue about your teaching activities, your impact on children’s learning and your evidence of competent teaching.

You will compile a Portfolio of Evidence to demonstrate how you are meeting the Early Years Teachers’ Standards. You will use a Tracker to monitor your own progress and identify areas for your development. You will complete an ongoing Professional Development Plan (PDP) to identify and prepare specific activity to support your own development.  

Mentors and Supervision Tutors work in close collaboration with you to monitor your progress and support you in developing your practice and furthering your understanding. This is intended to further your understanding of reflective practice and engender both an independent and a collaborative approach to continuous professional development which continues beyond your EYITT year and enables you to knowledgeably adapt to differing educational climates throughout your career. 

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Upon successful completion of 60 credits and the Professional Practice module you will be awarded a PGCE in Early Years Initial Teacher Training (mainstream pathway). Please note that EYITT leads to the award of Early Years Teacher Status, not Qualified Teacher Status which is required to lead teaching and learning in maintained schools.

School placements

Students will undertake placements to experience teaching across the full 0-5 age range and engage with the educational curriculum beyond the EYFS. For GEB students this involves 60 days of placements, up to 30 days of which can be completed by working with alternative age groups within the Employment Setting. A minimum of 30 days of placements must be completed within an alternative setting that IOE provides. Students must be able to demonstrate a minimum of 120 days of practice over the PGCE year, which includes practice within placements and the employment role.

During placement periods you should be prepared to travel to and from each placement. It should be noted that there is variation in how accessible early years settings are, and whether they have parking facilities. However, if you let us know of any specific accessibility needs you have, we will endeavour to accommodate them.

We ensure your placement will provide fulfilling and valuable experiences through:

• A dedicated Placements Team to identify the best settings for your placements, as close to your home as possible
• Interconnection between specific programme tasks and placement activity, to facilitate relating theory and practice
• Ongoing support from a specific Setting Mentor and IOE Supervision Tutor
• Programme documentation that is designed to facilitate progression along bespoke trajectories, to enable you to set, and meet, personalised targets

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.