Early Years Teacher Status (Professional), PGCE
Develop your professional practice skills and play an essential role in children’s development as a qualified early years teacher.
This Professional Graduate Certificate of Education (ProfGCE) teaches you how to provide high-quality early years education. We create an individual training plan that is unique to you and help you use your skills to ensure all children have access to high standards of learning.
As part of this course, you will develop professional practice with children from birth to five years, and support and lead reflective practice and quality provision. We provide local placements with dedicated mentors. This course is accredited by the DfE (Department for Education).
Your tuition fees may be covered by a DfE grant, and there are also bursaries of up to £5,000 for graduates with a First Class Honours degree, £4,000 for graduates with a 2:1, and £2,000 for graduates with a 2:2.
Department
Campus
Duration
1 years full-time
Start month
September
Home fees
2021/2022 fees
What you should know about this course
What you will study
Jill Harrison
Principal Lecturer and Programme Leader
Louise Atkins
Senior Lecturer, Early Years Programme Coordinator Early Years ITT
About the course team
Welcome to our Professional Graduate Certificate of Education (ProfGCE). Your teaching comes from an experienced team of lecturers. These include academics and practitioners with a wide range of experience. All of our teaching team holds a teaching qualification.
Come and meet us
Given the current situation with Covid-19, we are offering virtual events so that you can still experience how Greenwich could be the right university for you.
Next Open Days
Got a question?
To find out more about our Open Days and Campus Tours or if you need any assistance, please email opendays@gre.ac.uk.
Entry requirements
Applicants should have:
- An undergraduate degree in any subject
- Plus GCSEs at grade C or above in English, mathematics and science or equivalent. (We will accept equivalency tests from Equivalency Testing for Career Development and A Star Equivalency Testing).
For more information, contact courseinfo@greenwich.ac.uk or 020 8331 9000.
You can also read our admissions policy.
Further information about entry
Candidates will also be required to:
- Attend an interview
- Pass professional skills tests in numeracy and literacy before beginning the programme.
Available to overseas students?
No
Can I use prior learning?
Find out more on our Recognition of Prior Learning pages.
Enhanced disclosure
Applicants for this course are required to complete a suitability declaration, an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check, and an occupational health check.
How you will learn
This section helps you understand more about how you’ll learn based on standard delivery of teaching and learning on campus.
However, as a response to COVID-19 we are currently operating a ‘blended model’ of teaching and learning. This means a combination of face-to-face sessions on our campuses with online lectures. There is additional support for any students who are unable to attend campus because they are ill or shielding. We’ll continue to offer blended learning to all our students, in line with government guidelines, for as long as we are advised to. If government or local authority rules require it, we may be limited to offering online-only learning but will return to blended learning as soon as we are safely able to do so.
You can find out more about how we are supporting our students.
Teaching
In a typical week, learning takes place through a combination of lectures and seminars. You will be able to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller group sessions. Contact hours may fall between 9am and 9pm, depending on your elective courses and tutorials.
Class sizes
Information coming soon.
Independent learning
Outside of timetabled sessions, you will need to dedicate time to self-study to prepare for coursework, presentations and exams. Our library and online resources will support your further reading and research. You can also join a range of student societies, including law and debating.
Overall workload
Your overall workload consists of contact hours (lectures, seminars, etc), independent learning, and assessments. For full-time students, the workload should be roughly equivalent to a full-time job. For part-time students, this will reduce in proportion with the number of modules you are studying.
Assessment
On this course, you will be assessed in a variety of ways including reports, essays, presentations and practical performance. All assessment is designed to enhance your professional development and strengthen your understanding of early years issues (from birth to age five).
Feedback summary
Information coming soon.
Dates and timetables
Full teaching timetables are not usually available until term has started. For any queries, please call 020 8331 9000.
Fees and funding
Your time at university should be enjoyable, rewarding, and free of unnecessary stress. Planning your finances before you come to university can help to reduce financial concerns. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.
2021/2022 fees
| Full-time (per year) | Part-time (per 30 credits) | |
|---|---|---|
| View fees |
Accommodation costs
Whether you choose to live in halls of residence or rent privately, we can help you find what you're looking for. We have dedicated accommodation for postgraduate students (Devonport House) available from just £160 per person per week, with bills included. If you require more space or facilities, these options are available at a slightly higher cost. Students based at the Medway Campus can also reside in student halls in Chatham or rent privately in the local area.
There is a range of financial support available to support your studies. This includes postgraduate loans, international scholarships, and options for current students and alumni to continue studying at the university.
We also provide advice and support on budgeting, money management and financial hardship.
Other costs
Further costs may include (but are not limited to):
- Resources: you may need to purchase books for your studies, as well as specific computer software (estimate, £150 per year)
- Membership: applying for memberships of professional body may incur further costs
- Field trips: you may need to contribute towards any trips required for your course (estimate, £300).
Will I have a work placement?
You will be required to be in placement full-time in a range of settings over the course of your study.
How long is my placement?
One year full-time.
What sort of careers do graduates pursue?
Early years specialists with Early Years Teacher Status can aspire to become leaders of practice in early years settings.
Do you provide employability services?
Our services are designed to help you achieve your potential and support your transition towards a rewarding graduate career.
The Employability and Careers Service provides support when you are preparing to apply for placements and graduate roles. It includes CV clinics, mock interviews and employability skills workshops.
Each School also has its own Employability Officer, who works closely with the industry and will provide specific opportunities relevant to your own course.
Support and advice
Academic skills and study support
We want you to make the most of your time with us. You can access study skills support through your tutor, our subject librarians, and our online academic skills centre.
Where appropriate, we provide support in academic English and mathematics. If you need to use particular IT packages for a specific module, we provide training for this.
Support from the department
We offer a well-developed personal tutoring system to support students individual needs.
Accommodation information
Not quite what you were looking for?
We've got plenty of other courses for you to choose from. Browse our postgraduate taught prospectus or check our related courses below.
Early years studies at the University of Greenwich
Create a better future for the next generation using the skills and practical experience you gain from our early years degree courses.
Visit our early years studies subject page.
Early years studies courses
Early years studies subject page Subject page Search our early years and childhood studies courses All courses
Mode of study
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Need more help?
020 8331 9000• Live chat• courseinfo@gre.ac.uk• More information