PGCE Early Years (3 - 7)

Entry requirements

You will be required to have:

• a UK degree, preferably grade 2.2 or equivalent
• pass at literacy and numeracy tests, which are university-based tests that you will be asked to undertake at your interview
• a valid Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate and Confirmation of Fitness to Teach (eg a London Metropolitan University Health Check) - you will be advised to apply for these after an offer is made
• GCSE English, Mathematics and Science grade C (grade 4 from 2017) or above (or equivalent)*

If you hold a third class degree, you may still be considered, particularly if this qualification is supported by a completed Master's degree or relevant work experience.

We do make conditional offers (with strict deadlines), so it is important that you include all pending qualifications in your UCAS application.

If you feel your qualifications are outside of the requirements you should contact us for further advice before applying. We highly recommend the one-to-one tailored advice on eligibility and equivalency offered by the Department for Education Get Into Teaching service.

*If you need to take an equivalency test for any of the required GCSEs, once you've received an offer from London Met please sign up for the BCU equivalence tests, which are the only approved ones to work entirely online. They are only available to teacher training offer-holders, so cannot be taken prior to application.
BCU offer all three GCSE equivalencies. An individual applicant who is holding an offer at an ITE provider will pay a one-off admin fee of £25, irrespective of the number of equivalencies needed. You'll then pay a fee of £75 for Maths, £75 for Science and £90 for English. This will give you access to four areas of learning, which can be engaged with through repeat sessions (the same areas but with different examples that give you a chance to revisit before taking the test). You'll then have the opportunity to take two tests, a first attempt and one resit.

Further details

Before you can be permitted to enrol on this course:

• you must not already hold QTS or be qualified to teach in another EU/EEA country

Prior to the interview for this course, London Met recommends you:

• have a minimum of 10 working days recent experience (within the past year) in a school
• prepare for your understanding of current teaching practice and issues in schools to be assessed
• have an awareness of multiculturalism and other contexts unique to urban schools
• you may be invited to interview based on information given in your application

Some offers may recommend further school experience if required.

Months of entry

September

Course content

If you want to teach three to seven-year-olds, this PGCE Early Years course is an exciting opportunity to launch your teaching career. Addressing multiculturalism, diversity and more, our Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA)-accredited course combines your theoretical training with two practical placements at the school. Attendees of our PGCE Early Years courses attain high results, with 95% achieving an Ofsted good or outstanding grade by the end of the course and 96% going on to obtain employment, often with their placement schools.

More about this course

This Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA)-accredited PGCE Early Years course at London Met and one of our partner schools prepares you to teach 3 to 7-year-olds (Key Stage 1) and leads to Qualified Teacher Status.

You will study at London Met and attend two placements at a partnership school of 11 and 13 weeks. We’ll extend your knowledge, develop your classroom practice and help you examine the underlying principles and values that inform current debates around educational issues.

At London Met, you’ll learn about teaching in urban, multicultural and multilingual schools and will address language, diversity and equality across the curriculum. Training within the framework and principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the unique London context, you’ll be well equipped to help maximise every child's’ development.

Your time at our partnership school will be supported by school-based mentors and University-linked tutors. The tutors will also deliver your University sessions, ensuring a continuity of support throughout the course.

Overall, the purpose of the course is to develop you into a teacher of the highest quality. One who is reflective, creative, imaginative and responsive to all children’s needs. This approach has led to positive reviews by Ofsted:

"The recent Ofsted online trainee survey now indicates very high confidence rates... trainees are therefore pushed to reach the highest standards."
Ofsted, 2016

Assessment

Your assessment will consist of four elements:

• School placement A
• School placement B, where your teaching ability will be assessed in relation to the standard for Qualified Teacher Status
• a Professional Practice Portfolio which is compiled throughout the year, detailing personal experiences and reflections on your development as a teacher, largely in relation to your practical teaching experience
• the Educational Research Assignment, which allows you to explore an educational issue

There are no examinations.

Professional accreditation

This PGCE course is accredited by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).

Information for international students

The University will assess any overseas qualifications for equivalence using a number of resources including our own internal guidelines, the UK National Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) and the Overseas Degree Table.

Due to statutory requirements, we are not able to offer sponsorship under the Tier 4 visa route for this course. We will be happy to consider those falling into this category for an alternative suitable course on request. Overseas nationals who already hold an alternative visa in a suitable category or have been granted permission to remain in the UK indefinitely, and EU nationals may be considered for admission but please note that an additional international enhanced police check will be required.

To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Tier 4 student visa you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.