Welcome to your Primary Early Years course

Our sessions are mainly in person and will be quite practical. In addition to this you will be offered weekly tutorials with your Lead (university-based) Mentor and will have a school-based mentor to support you in school while you are on placement.

Throughout your PGCE we will cover all aspects of what you will need to know to be a primary teacher specialising in early years.  Most of your sessions will be subject based but we will also be looking at things like behaviour management, assessment and pedagogy. 

The following core texts are recommended reading:

• Haylock, D. and Manning, R. (2018) Mathematics Explained for Primary Teachers + Student Workbook for 'Mathematics Explained for Primary Teachers (London, SAGE)

• Waugh, D. et al (2017) Primary English for Trainee Teachers (London, SAGE)

• Roden, J. and Archer, J. (2014) Primary Science for Trainee Teachers (London, SAGE)

• McGregor, D. and Precious, W. (2014) Dramatic Science: Inspired Ideas for Teaching Science using Drama ages 5–11 (London, Routledge)

• Sharp, J. et al (2017) Primary Science: Teaching Theory & Practice (London, SAGE)

• Webster, M. and Misra, S. (2015) Teaching the Primary Foundation Subjects (London, Open University Press)

• Hayes, C. et al (2017) Developing as a Reflective Early Years Professional: A Thematic Approach (St Albans, Critical Publishing)

Join our Social Media accounts for the Institute of Education so you can feel a part of the IOE family before you arrive.

You’ll see what we post, links to relevant news articles, developments within the sector, employability support and things going on in our courses.

Following this account will give you the opportunity to do some pre-reading and research before you join the course

Visit our Instagram Page

There is a variety of software which can be downloaded from the University’s website and can also be accessed via the button below. This software is free for all of our students, as we understand to reach your full potential and succeed in your degree you need the tools to help you. The software available is;

• Microsoft Office 365
• Microsoft Teams
• SPSS and AMOS
• Maple
• NVivo
• Sophos Antivirus
• Asure Dev Tools for Teaching
• VMWare
• Free Training

Free Software

• Mental Wellbeing - https://www.staffs.ac.uk/study/disabled/mental_wellbeing/
• Student Support - https://www.staffs.ac.uk/students
• Financial Support - https://www.staffs.ac.uk/students/money-matters/student-support-fund
• Study Support from the Library - https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/c.php?g=654666&p=4599175 and http://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/libraryresources
• Student Inclusion Team- Student Inclusion Team - Current students - Staffordshire University (staffs.ac.uk)

Getting involved in a student group can enhance your time at University. It’s a great way to make new friends and connections, learn from other students and develop new skills whist having some fun at the same time. Whether you want to join a group as a member, get involved in running a group as part of a committee or help run an event or organise your own – your Students’ Union is here to help make it happen! Please check out our website for more information on all of our groups, volunteering and other opportunities, or get in touch with our Engagement Team if you have more questions.

All Student Groups: https://www.staffsunion.com/getinvolved/clubsandsocieties/ (filter to see all academic groups).

Current Academic Societies:

Accounting & Finance: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/25507/

Biology: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/biosoc/

Education: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/staffsedsoc/

Engineering: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/theies/

FACS: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/facs/

Fashion: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/fashionsociety/

Humanities: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/humanities/

Law: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/lawsociety/

Bonus Group - Debating: https://www.staffsunion.com/activities/society/21294/

How to set up a new group: https://staffordshire.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0CG5LLyaUvS8eVv

Group Committee Resource & Support Area: https://www.staffsunion.com/managementhub/

Developing You (personal development resources): https://www.staffsunion.com/developingyou/