BA (Hons) Primary Education (Early Years 3-7) with QTS

Program Overview

The BA (Hons) Primary Education (Early Years 3-7) with QTS program at Leeds Trinity University is a comprehensive three-year full-time degree that directly leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), enabling graduates to teach in primary schools across England and Wales. This program provides a thorough understanding of child development from ages 3 to 7, early years pedagogy, curriculum design and delivery for the early years foundation stage and key stage 1, assessment strategies, safeguarding, and inclusive practices. The curriculum strategically blends rigorous theoretical learning with extensive practical application through substantial and progressive school-based placements from the first year. This ensures graduates develop strong pedagogical skills, classroom management techniques, curriculum knowledge, and the ability to create engaging and effective learning environments for young children. The program emphasizes reflective practice, professional development, and a commitment to fostering a love of learning in young learners.

Curriculum: The curriculum of the BA (Hons) Primary Education (Early Years 3-7) with QTS program is meticulously structured to provide a strong foundation in early childhood development and primary education principles, directly aligned with the requirements for QTS. The initial years typically cover core areas such as child development (physical, cognitive, social, and emotional), early years pedagogy and practice, literacy and numeracy development in the early years, understanding the early years foundation stage (EYFS) framework, and developing essential teaching skills. Students also undertake significant school-based placements to apply their learning in real classroom settings. As students progress, the curriculum delves into more specialized areas such as curriculum development across all primary subjects for the early years and key stage 1, assessment for learning, inclusive education practices for young children with diverse needs, behavior management strategies, and safeguarding and child protection. The final year often includes a substantial period of assessed teaching practice, further consolidating their skills and preparing them for their teaching careers.

Research Focus: The BA (Hons) Primary Education (Early Years 3-7) with QTS program at Leeds Trinity University encourages students to engage with research by fostering critical thinking, analytical skills, and an understanding of current educational issues and best practices in early years education. While primarily a vocational program focused on preparing qualified teachers, it is informed by the active research interests of the education faculty in areas such as early literacy development, play-based learning, inclusive education, the impact of policy on early years provision, and effective teaching methodologies. Students are encouraged to explore and critically analyze current educational research, policy documents, and pedagogical approaches relevant to early years education. The program may include opportunities for students to undertake small-scale research projects related to their teaching placements or areas of academic interest, developing their ability to use evidence-based practice in their future teaching careers.

Industry Engagement: Industry engagement is at the heart of the BA (Hons) Primary Education (Early Years 3-7) with QTS program at Leeds Trinity University, ensuring its direct relevance and high graduate employability within the education sector. The program has strong and established partnerships with a wide network of primary schools across the region, providing students with extensive and progressive professional practice placements throughout the three years. These placements are carefully structured to offer a range of experiences in diverse early years settings, allowing students to work alongside experienced teachers, develop their teaching skills, and gain a deep understanding of the realities of classroom practice. The university's dedicated Teacher Education team provides significant support to students in securing these placements and ensures they receive high-quality mentoring and feedback. The strong links with schools often lead directly to employment opportunities for graduating students.

Global Perspective: While the BA (Hons) Primary Education (Early Years 3-7) with QTS program is primarily focused on the UK education system and the requirements for QTS in England and Wales, it incorporates a global perspective by acknowledging different approaches to early childhood education and care internationally. The curriculum may explore various pedagogical philosophies and educational systems used in other countries, as well as international research on child development and effective early years practice. Students are encouraged to consider the social, cultural, and economic factors that influence early childhood education globally. The diverse student body at Leeds Trinity contributes to a rich intercultural learning environment, fostering an understanding of different perspectives on child development and learning. While specific study abroad opportunities within this program may be limited due to the intensive placement requirements, the program aims to prepare graduates to be reflective and adaptable practitioners with an awareness of global trends in early years education.