Successful bid to deliver new Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EY ITT) programme

The School of Education has been successful in a bid to the National College of Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) to deliver the new Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EY ITT) programme from September 2014. We have been allocated places for the Graduate Employment Based route. This part time, yearlong route is for graduates who have experience working with the youngest children (0-5) in the early years sector.  Trainees on the Early Years ITT programme will gather evidence to demonstrate their ability to meet the Teachers’ Standards (Early Years) in their work with babies, toddlers and young children. They will also demonstrate their understanding of the educational continuum of expectations, curricula and teaching of Key Stage 1 and 2.  Early Years Teachers are specialists in early childhood development and are instrumental in leading practice and raising standards in early years settings. Early Years Teachers are responsible for:

• Raising the quality of early years provision;
• Acting as change agents to improve practice;
• Leading practice across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS);
• Supporting and mentoring other practitioners;
• Modelling the skills and behaviours that safeguard and promote good outcomes for children.

The Early Years ITT team will work closely with local schools and early years settings to develop a model of partnership working which will enable trainees to develop their expertise through work based learning.

Interviews will take place in May and June and the team look forward to welcoming the first trainees in September 2014 building on the success of our previous EYPS/EYTS programmes.