Skip Navigation

BA (Hons) Primary Early Years Education with QTS course preparation

To help you feel prepared for your BA (Hons) Primary Early Years Education with QTS studies, we’ve gathered together a range of course related activities including suggested reading, useful websites and some great things to do right now. Read on to find out more:

Suggested reading

You’ll be given lots of information about which textbooks to read and introduced to the University Library, as well as the many ebooks we have for you to access, when you begin your studies in September.

In the meantime, you might like to do some reading before starting your degree if you can. We don’t recommend rushing out to buy texts before you arrive. But if you can pick some up second hand, borrow from a library or access online, we suggest looking for any of the following:

  • Allen, S.F., Whalley, M.E., Lee, M, and Scollan, A. (2020) Developing professional practice in the early years. London OUP.
  • Atherton F. and Nutbrown C. (2013) Understanding Schemas and Young Children. London: Sage.
  • Bruce, T. and Louis, S. (2014) Observing Young Children – London: Sage.
  • Bottrill, G. (2018) Can I go and Play Now?: Re-thinking the Early Years. London: Sage.
  • Bruce, T. (2015) Early Childhood Education 5th Edition. London: Sage.
  • Department for Education (2021) Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage. Setting the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five. Department for Education.
  • Birth to 5 Matters. (2021) London: Early education.
  • Dukes, C. Smith, M. (2014) Provision and Progress for Two Year Olds. London: Sage.
  • Elfer, P. Goldschmeid, E. Selleck, D. (2012) Key Persons in the Early Years. Building Relationships for Quality Provision in Early Years Settings. London: Routledge.
  • Ephgrave, A. (2018) Planning in the Moment with Young Children: A practical guide for early years practitioners and parents. Oxon: Routledge.
  • Hodkinson, A. (2019) Key Issues in Special Educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion (Education Studies: Key Issues). London: Sage
  • Kanyal, M. (2014) Children’s Rights 0 -8. Promoting Participation in Education and Care. London: Routledge.
  • MacBlain, S. (2014) How Children Learn. London: Sage.
  • MacBlain, S. (2022) Learning Theories for Early Years Practice. Londond: Sage.
  • Nutbrown, C. and Clough, P. (2014) Early Childhood Education. History, Philosophy and Experience. Second Edition. London: Sage.
  • Robinson, M. (2014) The Feeling Child. Laying the Foundations of Confidence and Resilience. Abingdon: Routledge.
  • Rodd, J. (2015) Leading Change in Early Years – Open University Press
  • Simmons, N. and Morris, G. (2017) Planning for Learning in Early Years (2nd Ed): A Practical Approach to Development Matters. Morris and Simmons Education.
  • Siraj, I. and Hallet, E. (2013). Effective and Caring Leadership in the Early Years. Sage.
  • Thornton, L. Bruton, P. (2014) Bringing the Reggio Approach to Your Early Years Practice. Third Edition. London: Routledge.
  • Tucker, K. (2014) Mathematics Through Play in the Early Years. London: Sage.

Useful websites

Keeping up to date with the latest developments in the Education world is a great way to prepare for your course. Here are some websites that you will be useful, you should also try and find some good websites of your own:

Your pre-arrival tasks

In order for you to start your journey into becoming a professional, reflective Early Years Practitioner, we’ve created three activities that we feel will help you to make a positive start to the programme. We ask that you complete them before starting your programme.

Please keep your responses and notes together in a portfolio of pre-course work that is saved on a pen drive. They will be used in your first sessions, where they will be discussed with your peers and personal tutor.

Activity one – Reflection Audit
Activity two – Reflection on children’s learning
Activity three – Subject and curriculum knowledge

Meet your programme lead