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The Graduate Entry Mainstream (GEM) pathway on the EYITT programme is designed for those who wish to work with children from 0-5yrs old. EYTS will be recommended for graduates who have met all of the Early Years Teachers' Standards. This is different from QTS, which is required to lead learning in Local Authority maintained schools. EYTS enables people to teach 0-5yr olds within all other areas of the sector, which is the provision where most children in the EYFS attend.
Key information
Programme starts
September 2021
Modes and duration
Application dates
Tuition fees (2021/22)
Note on fees:
The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website. A Department of Education (DfE) training grant is available to cover the full cost of tuition fees. This is paid directly to UCL on your behalf.
Accreditation
Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) will be recommended for graduates who have been judged to have met all of the Early Years Teachers' Standards. Please note that EYITT leads to the award of EYTS, not QTS which is required to lead teaching and learning in maintained schools. EYTS enables people to teach 0-5yr olds within Academies, Free Schools, Independent Schools and within the Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) sector which is the provision where most children in the EYFS attend.
Entry requirements
A minimum of a lower second-class UK Bachelor’s degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.
No specific subject required.
English Language, Mathematics and Science at grade C or 5.
We recommend that you aim to gain some experience in an EYFS Setting before you enrol on the EYITT PGCE. This may involve observations, work experience (e.g. as a teaching assistant or cover supervisor), or voluntary work.
If you are made an offer you will be required to successfully complete Occupational Health and Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure checks. The total cost of these checks is £157. These checks are required to ensure you meet the Department for Education’s requirements for physical and mental health to teach, as well as assessing your suitability for access to children and vulnerable adults. More details can be found on the Entry requirements page.
Trainees will be assured against a set of fundamental Mathematics and English skills by the end of their teacher training.
English language requirements
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.
The English language level for this programme is: Good
Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.
International students
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
Visa information
This programme is not suitable for international students on a Tier 4 visa.
International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below.
Select your country:
About this programme
Early Years Teachers will be specialists in early childhood development and the EYFS Framework. As highly skilled graduate leaders, you will be responsible for facilitating and leading high quality professional practice in early years settings. Graduates will leave the programme as reflective practitioners who work with integrity, fostering positive relationships with parents/carers and children as well as other professionals.
Students undertake modules to the value of 60 credits.
Students take three core modules (60 credits total). Each module has taught components where Students are required to attend the IOE or engage in online learning tasks at specified times. There are also approximately 130 placement days working with children across a range of age groups.
Successful completion of the Professional Practice Module and successful completion of the two Level 7 modules (60 credits), will result in the award of Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) and a recommendation for EYTS. Where the Professional Practice Module is not completed successfully, but both Level 7 modules are, then it is possible to be awarded a PGCert without EYTS.
An additional pathway is also available for those already employed in an early years setting.
Upon successful completion of 60 credits, 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.
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 is subject to change.
Compulsory modules
All EYITT students complete the same 3 Modules.
- Teaching and Learning and the EYFS Curriculum
- Developing Action Based Research
- Professional Practice (EYITT)
Placement
Students will undertake placements in order to cover the full 0-5 age range and engage with the educational curriculum beyond the EYFS. This involves a minumum of 120 days of placements, that the IOE provides.
Teaching and learning
The programme includes a combination of taught sessions, workshops, independent study and work-based learning. The content of the programme aims to keep a careful balance between early years initiatives, educational theory and its practical application. Work-based learning means that academic knowledge, skills and understanding are clearly integrated and contextualised within the professional role of an early years teacher.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.
Funding
A £7,000 grant is available to cover programme fees. This funding is provided to UCL automatically and does not need to be applied for. Please note that the funding outlined above is provided by the Department for Education (DfE) and therefore subject to DfE policy changes.
Bursaries may also be available. Further information is available on the Department for Education's Get into Teaching website.
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the UCL Scholarships and Funding website.
Careers
Early Years Teachers (EYTs) can lead learning in all Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) settings which is where the majority of children and EYFS provision is based. They can also work in Free Schools, Academies and Independent Schools which can employ teaching staff without the requirement for them to have QTS. EYTS Graduates have gone on to work in many different roles within the EYFS, as specialist teachers of 0-5yr olds.
Employability
Significant research, including the EPPE Project (Sylva et al, 2010), has provided sound evidence that high quality early education and care has a powerful impact on young children, not only preparing them for school, but contributing to positive outcomes later in life (Prout, 1999). It has become increasingly recognised that quality education in the early years has a significant influence upon long term outcomes for children. Government reforms in Initial Teacher Education have focused on the years birth to five. Consequently, successful graduates of the specialist EYITT programme find that they are highly sought after throughout the EYFS sector.
Why study this programme at UCL?
Students on the Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) programme benefit enormously from the complementary skills and expertise of staff in partnership schools/settings and at the IOE.
The EYITT route complements other existing initial teacher education programmes at the IOE by harnessing the expertise of internationally renowned lecturers and well respected researchers in early years education.
At the IOE we have a long tradition of working in partnership with early years settings and schools in inner cities, particularly in London. The placement settings offer teaching experience where practitioners serve as Mentors and joint assessors for our student Early Years teachers. IOE Tutors have extensive experience of Teaching, Leadership, Setting Management, inspection, research and consultancy.
Accreditation
Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) will be recommended for graduates who have been judged to have met all of the Early Years Teachers' Standards. Please note that EYITT leads to the award of EYTS, not QTS which is required to lead teaching and learning in maintained schools. EYTS enables people to teach 0-5yr olds within Academies, Free Schools, Independent Schools and within the Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) sector which is the provision where most children in the EYFS attend.
Department: Institute of Education
Application and next steps
Applications
Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.
Who can apply?
This pathway is for those not employed in an early years setting or phase of a school who wish to specialise in working with children aged 0-5 years.
Application deadlines
- All applicants
- 30 July 2021
Applications for our mainstream and employment-based Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) programmes will open in due course.
For more information see our Applications page.
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Page last modified on 15 October 2020