Early Years Teacher Diary - a new beginning

September is here and we are now working on Early Years Initial Teacher Training and supporting trainees who have enrolled on the Early Years Teacher Programme! Work has continued over the summer months to incorporate the revised Teacher’s Standards (Early Years) into the paperwork and teaching material used on the Programme. We have ensured all applicants have been pre-screened and interviewed and that their qualifications have been verified. In addition DBS checks have been completed and trainees have been registered with the University.

Recruitment

As with EYPS the University will be running all four pathways to Early Years Teacher Status and to remind you these are:-

The Graduate Practitioner Pathway (GPP)

• Graduates currently working in the sector who require a small amount of learning or experience before they can meet the Teacher’s Standards (Early Years).
• Normal duration: six months.
• Trainees must hold a degree awarded by a United Kingdom higher education institution (or recognised overseas equivalent) at the start of this pathway plus maths, science and English GCSEs.

The Undergraduate Practitioner Pathway (UPP)

• A current employee working in the sector with a Level 5 qualification.
• Normal duration: 12 months.
• At the start of the pathway trainees must hold a qualification with a total of at least 240 CAT (Credit Accumulation and Transfer) points, 120 of which must have been obtained at Intermediate Level on the Higher Education Qualifications Framework plus maths, science and English GCSEs.

 
The Graduate Entry Pathway (GEP)

• Graduates with an unrelated degree and limited experience of working with children from birth to five but who are looking to pursue a career working in early years.
• Normal duration: 12 months.
• All trainees must hold a degree awarded by a United Kingdom higher education institution (or recognised overseas equivalent) at the start of this pathway plus maths, science and English GCSEs.

 The Undergraduate Entry Pathway (UEP)

• Undergraduates completing a degree in Early Childhood Studies.
• Normal duration: 12 months
• Trainees must be studying in the final or penultimate year of a degree in Early Childhood Studies at the start of the pathway plus maths, science and English GCSE’s.

We have been strong in our recruitment and are pleased to welcome the new trainees to our University.

Induction

I have met all the current set of trainees as they joined us for induction sessions. At these sessions we covered the background to the Early Years Teacher Programme and the methods of assessment. The role of the mentor was considered as was how to start collecting documentary evidence. All trainees had an introduction to the University’s IT system and were made aware of our virtual learning environment in preparation for their first taught session. The final part of induction was a tour of our library where the facilities on offer were discussed. Trainees were able to see where the relevant books and online resources were held for their programme. We have now started on all programmes