Newman University College, BA (Hons), Early Years and Primary Education

The 3-7 age range is crucial in terms of children’s development and learning; it is at this formative and particularly receptive stage of development that attitudes towards learning are formed, attitudes that impact on future learning and development; thus the specialist early childhood education modules include: enabling environments and diverse settings; creativity, play and active learning; positive relationships; policy and practice in the early years; leadership in the early years; research in early childhood education; through early years curriculum, core curriculum, broad curriculum and educational and professional studies modules the student develops knowledge, understanding and skills that enable them to become an effective early years and primary teacher; the student considers the early years foundation stage; the primary national curriculum; and national strategies for literacy and numeracy; the student develops understanding of progression through different age phases and expected levels of achievement; they are taught how to prepare, deliver and evaluate lessons/activities that engage, motivate and inspire children; the student is encouraged to develop team-working skills, essential for an integrated approach to learning and for work in a multi-agency environment; the latest developments in education policy, for example the every child matters agenda, provide an underpinning for the student’s studies; the student spends time in school/settings in every year of the course, with preparation days followed by a block placement; these enable the student to observe experienced teachers in the school/setting and complement the knowledge, understanding and skills they are developing, in a practical and professional situation; as the course progresses the student gradually takes greater responsibility for planning and delivering lessons and activities, and for managing the work of children and adults; students who choose the 4-year route have an increased opportunity to follow their particular interests and extend their studies beyond mainstream primary schools; these include opportunities to study overseas or gain further experience in specialist settings.