Program Overview

Overview of the PG Certificate Early Years Practice

The PG Certificate Early Years Practice is a program designed to support educators working with students in Early Years settings, special needs schools, and social care. The program is offered by the Institute of Education and has strong partnerships with hundreds of child-based settings.

Working with Partners

The program has a carefully designed curriculum that prepares trainees well in their understanding of children's learning and development from birth to five. Over the year, trainees become reflective practitioners who can lend a critical eye to their settings, cascade their learning, and lead improvement in their sector.

Pathways

There are two pathways into Early Years teacher training:

• Graduate Entry Pathway: Designed for new graduates with little to no experience of working with young children. Students will undertake the PGCEYP (Post Graduate Certificate in Early Years Practice) alongside EYTS (Early Years Teacher Status).
• Graduate Entry Employment Based Pathway: Designed for graduates who are currently employed in the sector but require further training and experience to demonstrate the Teachers' Standards (Early Years). Students will undertake the PGCEYP (Post Graduate Certificate in Early Years Practice) alongside EYTS (Early Years Teacher Status).

Assessment Only

As an experienced teacher, it is possible to gain QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) or EYTS (Early Years Teacher Status) without additional training through the Assessment Only route. This route is only available to teachers who have substantial experience in teaching in either the public or private sector but do not already have QTS or EYTS.

Early Years Mentoring

The role of the setting and, more specifically, the mentor, will be to support the student and facilitate with them opportunities to put their evolving knowledge into practice. A mentor needs to be someone who:

• has been through the experience of training to work with babies, toddlers, and young children
• is available to talk through both complex and general issues in a knowledgeable, sympathetic, and trustworthy way
• has experience in delivering and leading practice in the Early Years Foundation Stage
• can support a trainee to become autonomous through dialogue and skilled questioning

Frequently Asked Questions

Funding

Fully funded places are available for graduate practitioners and graduates who wish to work in early education. An employer incentive payment is also available for employers with trainees on the graduate employment-based pathway.

Employer Information

Employers with trainees on the graduate employment-based pathway can find more information on the program.

Studying Alongside Work

For candidates without a degree, a Foundation Degree in Children's Development and Learning is available in partnership with local FE colleges. The candidate will need to work in early years (birth-5 years) or educational (4-11 years) setting for at least 2.5 days a week. College attendance is required for one afternoon and evening per week. There is then the opportunity to do a top-up year to gain a BA in Children's Development and Learning. Once they have successfully obtained their degree, the candidate can then progress on to one of the postgraduate Primary ITE programs.