Early Years Teacher Birth to 5 leading to Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) PGCE
Why choose this course?
This fully-funded employment-based course provides intensive specialist training, covering babies, toddlers and preschool children, to become an early years teacher in one year, with Early Years Teacher Status.
This course will enable you to become an effective, inclusive and evidence-informed teacher. At the heart of our course is a commitment to personalising your journey to Early Years Teacher Status. We'll help you to grow in confidence and competence by providing you with outstanding support as you train.
You'll find a supportive learning environment at the University. This will help you develop a deep understanding of the early years curriculum and acquire a range of teaching methods, based upon the latest research in education. We model good teaching as we train you, so you can transfer what you've experienced into your own practice. You will benefit from an additional contrasting placement which will provide you with a breadth of experience in schools, private, voluntary and independent early years sector.
You'll also benefit from a course that supports you in becoming a research-engaged teacher, who can use evidence to drive improvements in children's learning and wellbeing. Your PGCE modules form part of our Master of Research in Education, which you can continue with beyond your PGCE year.
Your employer will receive incentive payments from the government to contribute towards the costs that may be incurred while you are learning, such as arranging supply cover for your weekly sessions on campus and your alternative setting experience days.
Graduate Employment Based pathway
| Mode | Duration | Start date |
|---|---|---|
| Part time (employment based) | 1 year | September 2025 |
| Main Location | Kingston Hill |
Reasons to choose Kingston University
- You will gain Early Years Teacher Status in one year.
- This course is fully funded by government. Your employer will also have funding to enable you to attend classes and placements.
- You will be fully supported by a University Tutor and a Setting Based Tutor.
What you will study
You will study the Early Years curriculum and teaching methods based on the latest research. Topics include safeguarding, early literacy and maths, forest school and special educational needs and disability (SEND). Personalised support will help you with your study.
Sessions are for one full day a week, usually a Friday. Placements are in an Early Years setting (minimum 10 days, which may be extended to minimum 20 days depending on the age-range experience in your employed setting) and a Key Stage 1 school experience. You will be fully supported by setting tutors and university tutors.
Modules
Core modules
Professional Practice
0 credits
Non-credit bearing module
This module focuses on developing your ability to teach, assess and undertake your professional responsibilities in your chosen phase of education. It is part based at the University, where lectures, seminars and online learning will provide you with research, theory and practice based insights into effective learning and teaching. It is largely based upon your practice in school and settings, where you receive formal training, experience of working alongside professionals, experience of being the lead practitioner in a classroom/setting and experience of the wider aspects of being a teacher.
The Reflective Teacher
30 credits
This module introduces you to theories of reflective practice and the value and purpose of reflection for teachers. This will enable you to develop in-depth understanding of how you reflect in order to identify issues and develop solutions in your professional settings.
The main features of the module are critical explorations of factors that affect how children develop physically, socially and as learners. You will critically analyse issues relevant to your current practice, considering your own position as an effective teacher.
Through completion of a reflective journal during the module, you will develop critical, reflective and reflexive skills to inform peer and colleague discussion within a learning community. You will be encouraged and supported to challenge and develop your professional practice.
Perspectives on policy, practice and professionalism for teachers
30 credits
This module enables you to locate yourself as an emerging professional within wider discourses about teaching as a profession. It allows you to evaluate your own identity as a professional and reflect on the values that you and the wider profession hold. You will critically analyse discussions and debates which affect classroom practice. These debates will focus on specific areas to exemplify wider issues in education. The focus of these discussions will be on inclusive teaching and learning and the legislative frameworks which provide codes of practice.
A key focus of the module is to develop your ability to make sense of education research and to apply this in the context of your school or setting.
Entry requirements
Teaching and assessment
University sessions are led by highly-rated lecturers and visiting lecturers who have all had successful teaching careers. Sessions are held once a week.
Who teaches this course?
The course is taught by a team of early years experienced staff who are active researchers. Our academics led an EU project researching how to support toddler well-being and education and teaching in early years from international perspectives.
Course fees and funding
Additional costs
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.
Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (for example, art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.
Kingston Hill
While you are studying to become a teacher much of your time will be spent putting your skills into practice within a school/settings environment. The rest of the time will be spent being taught by highly experienced professionals.
The Kingston Hill campus features an outdoor learning environment where trainee teachers lead curriculum-linked natural sciences activities with children. It includes a specially built 'cubby house', outdoor pond, beehive and nature trail. It offers students the opportunity to simulate teaching and learning with natural materials.
Find out more about the Kingston Hill campus in the virtual tour.
There are a number of teaching rooms set up to replicate actual classrooms. Each classroom is subject based - such as an art room, science lab, and each is equipped with all the relevant facilities you will need to practise your lessons before taking them into school.
Our library (the Nightingale Centre) has an excellent range of teaching resources to help you plan and teach your lessons, such as a range of children's topic books, music and nursery rhymes on CD, as well as artefacts and kits that can be used to illustrate historical periods, different religions, science, maths and music.
After you graduate
Roles include early years teaching, management, and running an early years setting. The course can lead to a masters.
Positions and Roles:
- Class Teacher
- Room Leader
- SENCo
- Child Protection Officer
- Health and Safety Officer
- Senior Management
- EYFS Coordinator
- Deputy Manager
- Manager
- Regional and Local Managers
Other Positions:
- Early Years Advisor
- FE Lecturer
- HE Lecturer
- Consultant
- Ofsted Inspector
- Advisory Boards
- International Positions
Accreditation
Accredited by the Department for Education (DfE) for the purpose of delivering initial teacher training programmes to achieve Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS).
What our students say
The lecturers are fully aware of the content of the course and have always been able to explain it to students thoroughly. They are very approachable and are always available to meet with students on a one-to-one. Being a mature student, I have never felt singled out or left behind, they have always made me feel part of the team. I have enjoyed my time at Kingston and wish I had actually done this years ago.
I had a very positive placement experience in an outstanding alternative setting which provided me with the opportunity to witness first hand innovative pedagogical approaches and excellence in practice in the early years.
Samina
I wanted to further my knowledge and skills into becoming an early years teacher as I have always been so passionate about supporting children's learning and development. This PGCE EYITT with Early Years Teacher Status was perfect!
Ultimately, as a qualified Early Years Teacher, I feel I can make a significant contribution to the development and well-being of young children, helping them to achieve their full potential and preparing them for a successful future.
Rupi
I initially did my Foundation degree, and I chose to continue because of the teaching and friendships I had made. This course has helped me begin my career teaching and I also hope it will lead to me achieving my Masters.
Becky
The course has provided me with the knowledge, the skills and the confidence to do the next step in my career and find a new post with better conditions of employment, which in turn, has immensely affected my quality of life in a very positive way.
Maria
The course was a great transition for me to consolidate the practical and theory of being an Early Years Teacher (EYT). It has allowed me to gain a deeper insight into the different practices across various settings through engaging with other students on the course.
Kingston University have great lecturers with a depth of knowledge, they are eager to share their knowledge to help students develop. The University encompassed both the EYITT with the PGCE to allow for a wide variety of teaching and practical expertise.
I have been able to utilise my previous skills and qualifications in a different field with becoming an Early Years Teacher to progress to a Headteacher in an independent school.
Sophia Abbas, former EYITT trainee
I would recommend the EYITT course because it enables you to complete a teaching award whilst being employed. I found this beneficial because I could share what I had learnt directly with my colleagues and as a result it enabled me to improve my practice during the course.
The course enabled me to meet like-minded individuals from a range of early years settings, we were able to share our practice and as a result we have remained in contact and continue to share our experiences and ideas.
The MA part of the course was particularly interesting because it enabled me to think critically about aspects of early years and link my practice to different theories. I particularly enjoyed the 'change management project' as it enabled me to work with the other practitioners at my setting to evaluate and develop our practice on risk management.
Since finishing the course, I have become Room Leader of the Pre-school room, which is in combination to my EYT role. This has allowed me to build my confidence in leading and managing a team of practitioners.
Saffron Blevin, former EYITT trainee
The training involves a mix of theory and practice. There are lecturer and peer led learning sessions, and also some independent study. Part of the training involves building up knowledge and experience with different age groups by going on the appropriate placements.
The lecturers at Kingston were always on hand to support us in everyday practice as well as our studies. We also had a lot of support from our peers, as we had a huge wealth of knowledge within our EYITT group, this was invaluable.
I had a setting based mentor, who had completed the Early Years Professional Status, and she was able to provide me with practical advice about my studying and my practice. We also had a University Liaison Tutor, who was the link between students and the University, and was also on the end of the phone whenever a question about an assignment, teaching folders, or practice arose.
Sarah Howard, former EYITT trainee
Links with industry
Kingston University works regularly with local authority early years advisers and workforce development officers across London and the South East to deliver a fit-for-purpose programme to meet employers' needs. We have links with:
- A strong partnership of schools and settings in which you'll train
- Special schools
- Teaching school alliances
- Multi-academy trusts
- Schools and settings-centred Initial Teacher Training providers
- Local authorities
- Teaching unions
- Other universities around the country to share good practice
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
