At Worcester, we prepare you for a rewarding career as an Early Years Specialist through a mix of interactive seminars, group workshops and placements. Whether you’ve just graduated or are currently working in an early years setting, studying with us will give you the professional skills needed to become an inspiring and compassionate practitioner with Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS).
in the UK for sustained employment and/or further study
for primary and secondary teacher training
Worcester is an accredited Initial Teacher Training provider. This means that graduates who fulfil all the Early Years Teachers' Standards will be recommended for the award of Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) by the Teaching Regulation Agency.
Overview
As an Ofsted 'Outstanding' institution with a long and proud history of training teachers, we can offer you the support of knowledgeable and child-centred lecturers and an exceptional learning environment, where the happiness and well-being of children comes first.
Designed to meet the Early Years Teacher Standards, this Early Years Initial Teacher Training course is fully funded by the Department for Education and will qualify you to teach and care for young children from birth to age 5. There are two pathways through this course: Graduate Entry and a Graduate Employment-Based route (see FAQs for full details).
No matter your previous experience, you will be a qualified early years teacher with EYTS by completing this course. This is different to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which is necessary to lead teaching and learning in maintained schools.
Graduate Employment-Based route
If you are currently working in an early years setting but would like to become a qualified Early Years Teacher, you can study the Graduate Employment-Based route part-time alongside your job so you can keep earning while getting the hands-on experience you need. You will need your employer’s ongoing support throughout the program. Your employer will also receive a £7000 incentive payment to cover costs during your studies.
Graduate Entry route
For graduates who are at the start of their career, you’ll study the Graduate Entry route full-time with placements built into your timetable, where you can apply and practice all that you have learnt. These practical experiences, in combination with your time on campus, prepare you to be a highly skilled and passionate early years teacher. By taking this route, you may be eligible for a bursary of up to £5,000.
Placements
Work-based learning is central to this course, with placement opportunities including schools, pre-schools, nurseries, and private, voluntary and independent early years settings. Practical learning will be supported through a mixture of directed tasks, including a reflective journal.
You’ll complete a minimum of 120 days of placement experience during the course, taking place in a minimum of two early years settings (covering the birth to five years age range) and a school setting (Reception and Key Stage 1).
If you take the Graduate Employment-based route some of these placement hours could be carried out in your workplace, meaning you can continue to earn as you learn.
Course Content
Your training will begin with a week-long course induction in September. Early years placements in a minimum of two differing settings and a school-based setting will extend from September to June. You will be allocated some Tuesdays during the course to attend University-based training, with 22 days for the Graduate Employment-Based Route and 30 days for the Graduate Entry Route trainees. Additionally, you will benefit from two Wednesday online days aiding your written assignments, along with online twilight tutorial support from your Personal Academic Tutor. Additionally, there is an Early Years Teacher Transition event at the culmination of your course, spanning Thursday and Friday.
This course is informed by the latest research and feedback from students, staff, and placement schools. Modules do sometimes change to reflect this. The most up-to-date information will be available to you once you have accepted a place and registered on the course.
Careers
Early Years Teachers holding EYTS are highly sought-after in the education sector and benefit from the flexibility to explore various career pathways. You could be working in nurseries, preschools or primary schools, or you could pursue leadership roles such as an Early Years Lead or a Special Educational Needs Coordinator.
You will have opportunities across Academies, Free Schools, Independent Schools and the Private, Voluntary and Independent sectors, as well as early years settings overseas.
Wherever your EYTS takes you, you will make a significant impact on the lives of young learners.
Opportunities to progress
Graduates can continue their studies by using the 60 masters-level credits earned during the course towards an MA in Education.
Course highlights
Teaching and Assessment
You’ll be taught through a mix of seminars, group workshops, and lectures. A typical session will be interactive, with presentations, group discussions and the chance to critically challenge what you’ve learned. You’ll have the opportunity to dive deeper into the topics you’re interested in with time built into your schedule for independent research, as well as working on group projects and preparing for assignments.
There are no exams on this course. Instead, you’ll be assessed through a mix of written assignments, online portfolios, and teaching observations.
Teaching and assessment contents
The PGCert with EYTS course enables all trainees to become autonomous learners. The course is designed to support trainees of varying experiences, needs and backgrounds; to develop key/transferable skills and to disseminate good practice in early years development, learning and teaching. To achieve this, we closely monitor the quality of your experience in university and on placement.
You will be taught through a combination of:
- Experience in a minimum of 2 early years settings (birth to five years) and a school setting (Reception and Key Stage 1).
- Studying all areas of development, learning and teaching across the Early Years Foundation Stage and developing your knowledge of how learning continues in Key Stage 1 and 2
- Tutor-led workshops, lectures, seminars, fieldwork and guest lectures, primarily to introduce underpinning knowledge, theoretical argument, practical skills, central issues, key texts and inter-professional fields of study.
- Participation in high level professional discussion, peer presentations and debate, to encourage you to actively engage with and critically challenge the field.
- Directed study and problem-solving tasks provide opportunities to develop approaches that will deepen levels of understanding and professional judgement; development of practice-based competence and skills of critical reflection through guided individual mentoring during early years placements.
- One-to-one academic and personal tutorial support including access to our first-class Firstpoint services.
In addition, there are regular opportunities throughout the year to meet with your personal tutor, where you will have the opportunity to talk about your academic progress and setting experience. Your personal tutor will also support with career options and applications.
Entry requirements
The entry requirements for the Graduate Employment-Based Route and Graduate Entry Route are:
- hold, or be expected to achieve in the year of application, an undergraduate degree (2:2 or above)
- have passed GCSEs (or equivalent) at grade C/4 or above in English, Maths and a Science
Any questions?
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please call our Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk.
More to explore
Open Days
Visiting us is the best way to get a feel for student life at the University of Worcester.
The City of Worcester
Worcester is a welcoming university city with great transport links and plenty of student parking.
Accommodation
Benefit from our accommodation guarantee. We have rooms on campus to suit every budget including en-suite options.
Fees
Fees contents
UK, EU and International students
The fees for this course are covered by a Government training grant.
The tuition fee for full-time home and international students enrolling on the Early Years Initial Teacher Training PGCert in the academic year 2025/26 is £7,000, on both routes this fee is fully covered by the training grant.
Further information on early years initial teacher training funding can be found on the Department for Education website.
For more details on our fees, please visit our course fees page.
How to apply
How to apply contents
Please make your application through our online application form, which will be available on this page soon.
If you have any questions about applying, please contact the Admissions office on 01905 855111 or admissions@worc.ac.uk.
Contact
If you have any questions, please get in touch. We're here to help you every step of the way.
Lorna Williams
Principal Lecturer in Primary Education & Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) Course Leader
lorna.williams@worc.ac.ukAdmissions Office
admissions@worc.ac.uk01905 855111
