Do you want to specialise in working with babies and young children? Are you looking for a qualification where you can gain experience in a wide range of settings across the children's workforce?
At the University of Reading's Institute of Education, our Postgraduate Certificate in Early Years Practice will give you the range of skills, experience and knowledge you need to become a specialist in early childhood development.
You will learn from a diverse and experienced community, benefit from outstanding facilities and well-managed placements, and develop as an early years leader.
Once you graduate, you will be qualified to work in a wide range of settings which include:
- day-care
- nurseries and preschools
- academies and free schools
- out of school settings and children's centres
- home-based childcare such as childminding
Find out more about the PGCert Early Years Practice
Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS)
You will undertake your Postgraduate Certificate in Early Years Practice alongside Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS). EYTS is awarded to graduates who have been judged to have met all of the Teachers' Standards (Early Years) in practice from birth to five years old. The Teachers' Standards (Early Years) support the training, assessment and award of EYTS.
EYTS is the only graduate accreditation for the early years workforce.
Early Years Pathways
There are two pathways into Early Years teacher training available from the Institute of Education:
- Graduate Entry Pathway
Designed for new graduates with little to no experience of working with young children. Students will undertake the PGCEYP (Post Graduate Certificate in Early Years Practice) alongside EYTS (Early Years Teacher Status)
- Graduate Entry Employment Based Pathway
This pathway is designed for graduates who are currently employed in the sector but require further training and experience to demonstrate the Teachers' Standards (Early Years). Students will undertake the PGCEYP (Post Graduate Certificate in Early Years Practice) alongside EYTS (Early Years Teacher Status)
Applications and Enquiries
- For more information on Early Years teacher training, please visit the Department for Education (DfE) website
- For the University's PGCert Early Years Practice (EYTS) programme, please apply directly through our online application system, RISIS
- For support with your application, please contact the University of Reading Admissions Team at teachertraining@reading.ac.uk
Climate and sustainability education
At the University of Reading, we believe that climate and sustainability education is everyone’s responsibility. This is why we have set out our vision that all initial teacher trainees should be able to access training that empowers them to effectively incorporate climate education within their teaching across all levels and subjects as part of our National Climate Education Action Plan.
Across all of our ITE programmes at the Institute of Education, you will learn about:
- what is happening to our climate, how to help children learn about climate and sustainability in an age-appropriate and accessible way, and how to develop your positioning as a teacher
- climate justice, the impact of current and future changes to our environment and climate on ourselves and others, and implications for teachers
- how to translate knowledge and theory into change and personal action through building climate and sustainability education into your planning, teaching, and children’s learning
Visit Partnering for the Planet to find out more about the University of Reading’s world-leading work in climate science.
