Teach First extended to the early years
Katy Morton
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
The Government is to extend the Teach First leadership development programme to the early years from September to encourage bright graduates to the sector.
Teach First is working to attract high-calibre graduates into teaching. The charity's primary provision currently only reaches children aged five and over.
To be eligible for Teach First, schools must have at least 50 per cent of pupils from the lowest 30 per cent of the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI). The IDACI measures in the local area the proportion of children under the age of 16 that live in low-income households.
It is hoped that by extending the scheme to the early years, the quality of early education will improve and the profession will get the respect it deserves.
Nursery World reported in January that the Department for Education was considering extending Teach First to the early years, a recommendation made by think tank Policy Exchange.
From September 2013, 20 recruits will begin working with three- and four-year-olds under the Teach First programme. There will be another roll-out in September 2014.
Graduates will complete a two-year training programme while working full-time in schools, nurseries and other early years settings in poorer areas. After a year, the trainees gain a post-graduate certificate in education. After two years, they will have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Elizabeth Truss, Education and Childcare Minister, said, ‘Parents want and deserve high-quality early education for their young children. The extension of the Teach First Leadership Development Programme into the early years will mean talented individuals will be even more attracted to this important profession which makes all the difference to young lives. I hope it will encourage bright graduates who otherwise may not have considered working with young children.
‘Teach First has an excellent reputation for delivering high-quality teachers. This announcement will help to capitalise on this expertise for the early years profession to get the status it deserves. It will also drive up early education quality in poorer areas where it is most needed.’
John Colenutt, acting chief executive officer of Teach First, said, ‘This is an exciting development for Teach First and will allow us to respond to the needs of our partner schools which are keen for us to provide graduates to teach their younger pupils.
‘We are tailoring the training for those who will be working with three- to-seven-year-olds to ensure that they are fully equipped to manage the very different demands of children in the early years and support them.’
To be eligible for Teach First, schools must have at least 50 per cent of pupils from the lowest 30 per cent of the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI). The IDACI measures in the local area the proportion of children under the age of 16 that live in low-income households.
It is hoped that by extending the scheme to the early years, the quality of early education will improve and the profession will get the respect it deserves.
Nursery World reported in January that the Department for Education was considering extending Teach First to the early years, a recommendation made by think tank Policy Exchange.
From September 2013, 20 recruits will begin working with three- and four-year-olds under the Teach First programme. There will be another roll-out in September 2014.
Graduates will complete a two-year training programme while working full-time in schools, nurseries and other early years settings in poorer areas. After a year, the trainees gain a post-graduate certificate in education. After two years, they will have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Elizabeth Truss, Education and Childcare Minister, said, ‘Parents want and deserve high-quality early education for their young children. The extension of the Teach First Leadership Development Programme into the early years will mean talented individuals will be even more attracted to this important profession which makes all the difference to young lives. I hope it will encourage bright graduates who otherwise may not have considered working with young children.
‘Teach First has an excellent reputation for delivering high-quality teachers. This announcement will help to capitalise on this expertise for the early years profession to get the status it deserves. It will also drive up early education quality in poorer areas where it is most needed.’
John Colenutt, acting chief executive officer of Teach First, said, ‘This is an exciting development for Teach First and will allow us to respond to the needs of our partner schools which are keen for us to provide graduates to teach their younger pupils.
‘We are tailoring the training for those who will be working with three- to-seven-year-olds to ensure that they are fully equipped to manage the very different demands of children in the early years and support them.’
